Chinese officials have clarified that a recent trade agreement with Canada is not aimed at undermining other countries, following threats from US President Donald Trump to impose 100% tariffs on Canadian goods if the deal with Beijing moves forward.
At a Monday briefing, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun emphasized that the “strategic partnership” between China and Canada is not directed at any third party. “It serves the common interests of both countries and should be approached in a spirit of win-win cooperation,” he said.
Trump had issued a series of posts over the weekend, warning that China is “successfully and completely taking over” Canada and threatening steep tariffs should the deal proceed. In response, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stressed that Canada is not pursuing a free-trade agreement with China and had never considered such a move. He added that Canadian officials have communicated their position clearly to US counterparts.
Under the agreement, Canada will lower tariffs on Chinese canola oil from 85% to 15% by March, while some Chinese electric vehicles will be subject to Canada’s most-favoured-nation rate of 6.1%, down from 100%.
The situation highlights growing tensions between the US and Canada. Carney noted in a recent speech at Davos that the US-led global order has experienced fractures, and he encouraged other middle powers to collaborate in the face of economic pressures from larger nations. Trump responded shortly after, asserting that Canada “lives because of the United States” and rescinded Carney’s invitation to a newly formed Board of Peace.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent later clarified that the tariff threat would apply only if Canada allowed China to use its territory as a conduit to dump goods into the US market.
Carney urged that Canada diversify its trade relationships to reduce reliance on the United States, describing Trump’s remarks as part of a broader negotiation strategy ahead of the upcoming USMCA review scheduled later this year.
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