US President Donald Trump signaled plans to impose a blanket 100 percent tariff on all Canadian goods entering the United States should Canada pursue any trade arrangement involving China, sharply escalating tensions with Ottawa and casting new uncertainty over one of the world’s most closely integrated economic relationships.
This comes days after Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Carney was praised by global leaders this week for a Davos speech warning that “American hegemony” and other great powers are wielding economic integration as a weapon.
"The old order is not coming back," he said. "We should not mourn it. Nostalgia is not a strategy. But from the fracture, we can build something better, stronger and more just."
Trump did not specify what he meant by a “deal.” According to CBC News website, his comments follow a recent agreement between Canada and China that allows 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles to enter the Canadian market at a reduced tariff rate of 6.1 per cent, in exchange for Beijing lowering tariffs on Canadian canola.
"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," the US president said.
"China will eat Canada alive, completely devour it, including the destruction of their businesses, social fabric, and general way of life," Trump added.
The president later added that “the last thing the world needs is for China to take over Canada,” adding that such a situation “is not going to happen, or even come close to happening.”
Canada-US Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc said, "There is no pursuit of a free trade deal with China. What was achieved was resolution on several important tariff issues.”
Since returning from visits to China, Qatar and Davos, Carney has not faced media questions, even as he publicly pushed back against Trump twice in the past week.
This comes days after Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Carney was praised by global leaders this week for a Davos speech warning that “American hegemony” and other great powers are wielding economic integration as a weapon.
"The old order is not coming back," he said. "We should not mourn it. Nostalgia is not a strategy. But from the fracture, we can build something better, stronger and more just."
Trump did not specify what he meant by a “deal.” According to CBC News website, his comments follow a recent agreement between Canada and China that allows 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles to enter the Canadian market at a reduced tariff rate of 6.1 per cent, in exchange for Beijing lowering tariffs on Canadian canola.
"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," the US president said.
"China will eat Canada alive, completely devour it, including the destruction of their businesses, social fabric, and general way of life," Trump added.
The president later added that “the last thing the world needs is for China to take over Canada,” adding that such a situation “is not going to happen, or even come close to happening.”
Canada-US Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc said, "There is no pursuit of a free trade deal with China. What was achieved was resolution on several important tariff issues.”
Since returning from visits to China, Qatar and Davos, Carney has not faced media questions, even as he publicly pushed back against Trump twice in the past week.
