In a scathing social media post, former US President Donald Trump has threatened to immediately impose a 100% tariff on all Canadian goods and products if the country goes ahead with a “strategic partnership” deal with China. Trump warned that “China will eat Canada alive, completely devour it, including the destruction of their businesses, social fabric, and general way of life” if such an agreement is reached.
The threat came in response to the announcement by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney earlier this month of a new partnership between the two nations, which aims to expand trade and investment, particularly in areas such as agriculture, energy, and finance. As part of the deal, Canada is expected to lower tariffs on Chinese canola to 15% by March 1st, while allowing 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles into the Canadian market.
In his scathing remarks, Trump accused Carney of attempting to turn Canada into a “Drop Off Port” for China to send goods and products into the United States. “If Governor Carney thinks he is going to make Canada a ‘Drop Off Port’ for China, he is sorely mistaken,” the former president wrote on Truth Social.
The escalating tensions between the US and Canada come shortly after both Trump and Carney delivered speeches at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland last week. In his remarks, Carney warned of an “era of great power rivalry” and suggested that the US-led world order was over and “not coming back.”
Though Carney did not mention Trump or the US specifically, his comments were seen as a rebuke of the former president’s policies, including his tariff regime, previous threats to force Canada to become the 51st state, and his efforts to acquire Greenland.
In response, Trump has now revoked Canada’s invitation to his “Board of Peace,” which was established to help with the rebuilding and transition of power in Gaza. The former president wrote in a social media post, “Dear Prime Minister Carney, please let this Letter serve to represent that the Board of Peace is withdrawing its invitation to you regarding Canada’s joining, what will be, the most prestigious Board of Leaders ever assembled, at any time.”
The escalating tensions between the two North American neighbours underscore the growing geopolitical rivalry and trade tensions that have emerged in recent years, with both sides seemingly unwilling to back down from their respective positions.
