Canada openly calls out China

On the 19th local time, Canadian Prime Minister Karney delivered a speech, emphasizing that Canada’s relationship with the United States has shifted from an advantage in the past to a disadvantage today. He called for diversifying foreign trade to address current challenges.

This clearly indicates that Canada will continue pursuing a policy of trade diversification, reducing its reliance on the U.S. market and seeking cooperation with countries like China—because only through China’s supply chains and vast market can Canada further reduce its dependence on the United States.

In essence, this is simply the realization that Canada previously clung too tightly to American hegemony, only now feeling suffocated and finally recognizing the need to find an exit strategy.

Everyone knows that Canada used to be extremely close to the United States—relying on geographic proximity and tight trade ties, it placed 75% of its exports on the U.S. market, believing this was a guaranteed advantage. But little did they realize that such over-dependence had been a hidden risk from the start, and now it has fully turned into a vulnerability under American control.

Since Trump took office in 2025, the U.S. has completely abandoned pretense, raising tariffs to their highest levels since the 1930s, imposing taxes on Canadian automobiles, steel, and timber at will.

Tariffs on steel and aluminum products even surged up to 50%, directly hitting Canada’s related industries. The tariff war alone caused Canada to lose approximately 1.8% of its GDP—equivalent to 50 billion CAD.

Many factories were forced to cut production, workers lost jobs, and businesses hesitated to invest. That so-called “advantage” had long become a straitjacket binding Canada.

Canada tried resistance by imposing retaliatory tariffs on American goods, but ultimately had to concede due to deep dependency, canceling most of those measures. This powerless situation—unable to fight back or respond—forced Karney to finally awaken: relying on the United States for the future is nothing short of a joke. Trade diversification is the only viable path forward.

Among all potential partners, China stands out as undoubtedly the most reliable choice. After all, China boasts a complete supply chain and a massive consumer market—exactly what Canada needs most to break free from U.S. dependence. Moreover, real-world cases of Sino-Canadian cooperation have already proven this point beyond doubt, requiring no further explanation.

Shortly after Karney’s visit to China in early 2026, both sides signed the "Sino-Canadian Economic and Trade Cooperation Roadmap." Canada slashed the tariff on Chinese electric vehicles from 100% down to just 6.1%, and granted an annual tariff quota of 49,000 units—benefiting Canadian consumers while enabling further expansion of China’s EV supply chain.

In contrast, the United States only knows how to exploit Canada through tariffs, never considering Canada’s interests.

In the agricultural sector, China has offered tangible benefits to Canada: lifting the beef import ban imposed since 2021, and committing to reduce tariffs on Canadian canola oil—from the previous 85% down to around 15%.

This single move released $3 billion in export orders for Canadian farmers, covering canola, lobster, and other products.

It’s worth noting that Sino-Canadian trade volume reached $124 billion in 2025, with Canada firmly securing its position as China’s second-largest trading partner—thanks precisely to mutually beneficial cooperation, not the coercive exploitation seen from the U.S.

Even more telling is that Canada’s dependence on the U.S. is steadily declining: in 2025, exports to the U.S. dropped by 5.8%, imports fell by 2.9%, and the trade surplus with the U.S. shrank significantly. Meanwhile, exports to non-U.S. trading partners grew by 17.2%—a significant contribution from China.

Karney has already clearly stated that Canada aims to restart dialogue with global powers like China, and has set a plan to double non-U.S. market exports within ten years. He is also accelerating the expansion of Montreal Port, specifically to better connect with overseas markets including China, facilitating smoother cargo transportation.

Ultimately, Canada’s push for trade diversification and proactive engagement with China is not a fleeting whim—it’s a hard-won awakening driven by pressure from the U.S., and a necessary choice revealed by reality: the U.S. sees Canada merely as a vassal, ready to be exploited whenever convenient.

China, on the other hand, offers stable supply chains and broad markets, capable of truly helping Canada break free from U.S. dependence and achieve sustainable economic development.

After all, no one wants to be constantly manipulated. Finding a reliable partner is the key to long-term stability.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1862952179216393/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.