Donald Trump threatens Canada with 100% tariff if Ottawa makes deal with China

UPDATES WITH STATEMENT FROM CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER

By Yasin Gungor

ISTANBUL (AA) - US President Donald Trump threatened Saturday to impose 100% tariffs on all Canadian goods entering America if Ottawa reaches a trade agreement with Beijing.

"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.," Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.

The US president called Prime Minister Mark Carney "governor" and said he would be "sorely mistaken" if he allowed Canada to become a "drop off port" for Chinese products destined for the American market.

He predicted dire consequences for Canada from closer economic ties with Beijing, and said: "China will eat Canada alive, completely devour it, including the destruction of their businesses, social fabric, and general way of life."

In a separate post later, Trump said China taking over Canada is "the last thing the world needs."

"It’s not going to happen, or even come close to happening," he said.

- Canada rejects Trump's claim

Canada dismissed Trump's claims, clarifying that recent negotiations only resolved specific tariff disputes.

"There is no pursuit of a free trade deal with China. What was achieved was resolution on several important tariff issues," Dominic LeBlanc, Canada's minister responsible for Canada-US Trade, said in a statement.

LeBlanc emphasized the government's focus on strengthening economic ties with Washington, recalling Carney's earlier remark where he said that Canada and the US "have built a remarkable partnership in our economy and security."

The minister said Ottawa remains committed to ensuring the relationship benefits "both sides of our border" while building strength domestically and expanding trading partnerships globally.

Amid escalation, Carney urged citizens to support domestic businesses, calling the Canadian “economy under threat from abroad.”

Carney, in a video message, said his government is pursuing major initiatives, including millions of homes to improve affordability and military hardware "that will protect Canadians and our sovereignty."

"We can't control what other nations do. We can be our own best customer," he added.

Last week, Canada announced it had reached a trade agreement in principle with Beijing following Carney's China visit, easing tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles in exchange for reduced duties on Canadian agricultural exports.

Trump said Friday that Canada opposes his proposed "Golden Dome" protection over Greenland, and "voted in favor of doing business with China" instead.

Relations between Washington and Ottawa have deteriorated sharply since Trump took office last January, as Carney seeks to counter US tariffs while resisting appeals for Canada to become the 51st US state.

Amid the deteriorating ties, Trump withdrew Canada's invitation Thursday to join his "Board of Peace" in apparent retaliation for Carney's remarks at the World Economic Forum.