Trump shifts tone, threatens Carney with tariffs over China deal

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened Canada with 100 per cent tariffs following Prime Minister Mark Carney’s new trade deal with China.

In a post on Truth Social Saturday morning, while referring to Carney as governor, Trump says he’s “sorely mistaken” if he thinks Canada can become a “drop off port” for China.

Trump says he’ll hit Canada with 100 per cent tariffs on all Canadian products entering the States if a deal with China is made.

Later Saturday afternoon, Trump followed up his original statement with another Truth Social post saying, “The last thing the World needs is to have China take over Canada. It’s NOT going to happen, or even come close to happening!”

In response to the U.S. president’s comments, Canadian Minister of Internal Trade Dominic LeBlanc took to social media to clarify the move between Carney and China.

Leblanc’s post points out that “there is no pursuit of a free trade deal with China. What was achieved was resolution on several important tariff issues.”

The threat from Trump comes a week after the Canadian trade deal with China was first announced – a shift in tone from Trump’s initial reaction when he was seemingly unbothered by the deal.

“Well, that’s okay. That’s what he should be doing. It’s a good thing for him to sign a trade deal. If you can get a deal with China you should do that,” said Trump.

At this point, it’s not clear if Trump’s new tariffs will apply to Canadian goods that are  shipped to the U.S. without tariffs under an existing free-trade agreement.

Earlier this month, Carney pledged to eliminate Canada’s 100 per cent tariff on Chinese-made electric vehicles in return for reduced tariffs on Canadian agricultural exports, including lobster, crab and canola.

Trump’s latest threats follow Carney’s speech at the World Economic Forum, which earned a standing ovation after he sharply criticized the president’s foreign policies and use of tariffs as a weapon.

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