President Trump threatened to slap Canada with 100% retalitory tariffs if the neighboring country decides to strike a trade deal with China.
“If Governor Carney thinks he is going to make Canada a ‘Drop Off Port’ for China to send goods and products into the United States, he is sorely mistaken. China will eat Canada alive, completely devour it, including the destruction of their businesses, social fabric, and general way of life,” he said on Truth Social Saturday morning.
This comes on the heels of the president suggesting that “it would be a good thing” if Prime Minister Mark Carney made a deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
“If Canada makes a deal with China, it will immediately be hit with a 100% Tariff against all Canadian goods and products coming into the U.S.A.,” Mr. Trump said.
A Canada-China deal would cut tariffs on electric vehicles and canola, as Canada negotiated a deal to lower tariffs this month on Chinese electric vehicles for lower import taxes on Canadian farm products.
Tensions between the U.S. and Canada reached a boiling point this week after both of the countries’ leaders lashed out at each other at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Mr. Trump said that “Canada lives because of the United States” and rescinded Canada’s invitation to join his Board of Peace.
At the forum, Mr. Carney said Canada and the U.S. have built a remarkable economic partnership, but said, “We are masters in our home, this is our own country, it’s our future, the choice is up to us.”
He described this era as a “rupture,” urging other leaders to stand up against it.
“Every day, we’re reminded that we live in an era of great-power rivalry,” Mr. Carney said. “That rules-based order is fading. That the strong can do what they can, and the weak must suffer what they must.”
He said that his country can be an example that others do not have to bend toward autocratic tendencies — a direct jab at the U.S. president.
Mr. Carney said he opposed Mr. Trump’s proposed tariffs on European countries amid the U.S. president’s calls to take control of Greenland.
Mr. Trump backtracked the tariffs after he and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte reached the “framework” of a deal over acquiring the Arctic island.
