US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose 100% tariffs on Canada if the latter makes a trade deal with China.
In a social media post, Trump said, if Canadian Prime Minister Mark 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.”
While Trump has waged a trade war over the past year, Canada this month negotiated a deal to lower tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles in return for lower import taxes on Canadian farm products, The Associated Press reported.
Trump initially had said that agreement was what Carney “should be doing and it’s a good thing for him to sign a trade deal.”
Trump’s threat comes days after Carney’s address at the World Economic Forum in Davos, widely viewed as pushback on US actions.
What had Carney said in Davos?
Trump’s threat came amid an escalating war of words with Carney as the POTUS’ push to acquire Greenland strained the NATO alliance.
Trump had commented while in Davos, Switzerland, this week that “Canada lives because of the United States.” Carney shot back that his nation can be an example that the world does not have to bend toward autocratic tendencies, saying that “Canada does not live because of the US”.
Trump revokes Canada’s invite to ‘Gaza Board of Peace’
Shortly after Carney’s remark, Trump revoked the invitation made to Carney to join his “Board of Peace” for Gaza.
“Please let this Letter serve to represent that the Board of Peace is withdrawing its invitation to you regarding Canada’s joining,” Trump said on Truth Social in a post addressed to Carney.
Canada had indicated that while it would not pay to be on the board, it would join.
Notably, Trump’s push to acquire Greenland has come after he has repeatedly needled Canada over its sovereignty and suggested it should also be absorbed by the US’ as its 51st state.