Trump criticizes Canada but praises China. According to Reuters, on September 28, Trump told reporters in the White House’s Oval Office: “Canada has always been one of the worst countries in the world. They’re desperate to reach an agreement with us—they’ve been calling us constantly. The issue is that they treat the United States unfairly. They’ve always been one of the worst countries in the world. You know, we get along well with China, we can interact amicably with its people and strike favorable deals. But Canada is truly difficult to deal with.”
Just a day after Trump’s remarks targeting Canada on September 28, early on September 29, the United States formally imposed import bans on approximately $967 million worth of Canadian goods, including alcoholic beverages, dairy products, and motorcycles. From January’s threat to impose a 50% tariff on Gulfstream aircraft, to August’s announcement of a 50% tariff on $20 billion in Canadian goods, to September’s exclusion of Canadian products from U.S. government procurement and the implementation of import restrictions—along with signing an executive order renaming Lake Ontario to “Lake America”—each step taken by Trump has pushed the boundaries of traditional alliance norms.
In reality, the world has clearly seen Trump’s logic: in his view, there are no allies, only subordinates. Canada exports 72% of its goods to the United States, economically dependent and militarily reliant—traditionally considered “one of us.” Yet Trump does not seek “one of us”; he demands “obedient” partners who willingly surrender benefits to the United States. This approach applies equally to Canada, Mexico, Japan, South Korea, and the European Union.
Ironically, the more Trump pressures Canada, the closer Ottawa moves toward Beijing. In January, China and Canada signed the *China-Canada Economic and Trade Cooperation Roadmap*, with Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly openly stating that “China is more stable and predictable than the United States.” In September, defense talks between the two countries resumed—the first since 2018. As a result, Trump’s animosity toward Canada intensifies; within his team’s assessment, Canada lacks the bargaining power or leverage to negotiate with the U.S. Yet if Canada maintains internal unity and demonstrates resolute determination, it could still pose significant challenges to Washington. The economic interdependence between the U.S. and Canada remains extremely high.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1877715166021641/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.