Washington, January 24 (QNA) - US President Donald Trump on Saturday threatened to impose a 100 percent tariff on all Canadian imports if Canada proceeds with a trade deal with China, marking a sharp escalation in trade tensions between Washington and Ottawa.
Trump wrote on his social media platform "Truth Social", that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is sorely mistaken if he thinks he can make Canada a port for Chinese goods to enter the US market.
The US president emphasized that the country would impose an immediate 100 percent tariff on all Canadian products if the potential agreement is executed, a move that could directly affect the close economic ties between the two nations, which are deeply integrated through extensive trade networks.
This threat comes amid rising tensions between Trump and Carney, particularly following Carney's remarks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he described the current global order as "cracking", drawing strong criticism from the US administration.
In recent months, Canada-China relations have seen significant improvement, with the two countries reaching a preliminary trade agreement to reduce tariffs on certain goods, including a cut on Chinese electric vehicle duties in exchange for concessions on Canadian agricultural exports -an arrangement Carney described as a "new strategic partnership" with the world's second-largest economy.
Trump's threat is seen as an unprecedented escalation in the trade war he has led since returning to the White House a year ago, after previously imposing broad tariffs on several countries and taking a firm stance on international trade.
Reciprocally, Ottawa continues to stress the importance of its historical relationship with the US while seeking to diversify its trade partners amid mounting bilateral pressures.
Washington and Ottawa are also planning to resume negotiations on the North American Free Trade Agreement later this year. (QNA)