【Wen/Observer Net Wang Yi】Faced with U.S. President Trump's 100% tariff threat against Canada under the excuse of China, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded on January 25th local time that the related agreement with China is not a free trade agreement, but rather a correction of some issues that emerged in recent years.

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) pointed out on the 25th that Trudeau was referring to the trade arrangements reached with China in the areas of electric vehicles, agriculture, and seafood products during his visit to China last week. Trudeau said that the relevant agreements only reduced tariffs on several industries recently affected by tariffs, "What we did with China is to correct some problems that have emerged in recent years."

Trudeau stated that Canada "respects and complies" with the commitments in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (CUSMA), and has no intention of advancing a free trade agreement with China. According to CUSMA, if the three countries plan to advance a free trade agreement with a "non-market economy," they must notify the other member states in advance.

On January 25th local time, Trudeau responded to Trump's latest tariff threat. Screenshot from video

However, Trump ignored Trudeau's "clarification." On the afternoon of the 25th, Trump continued to post on his self-created social media platform "Truth Social," spreading the idea that "China is successfully and completely taking over the once-great Canada, it's really sad to see this happen. I just hope they don't touch hockey."

Previously, Trump threatened that if Canada "reaches an agreement with China," he would impose 100% tariffs on all Canadian goods entering the United States. He even called Trudeau "governor," saying that if "he turns Canada into a "transit port" for China to send goods and products to the U.S., he is absolutely wrong."

Trump did not specifically explain what the "agreement" referred to, but this statement marked a complete 180-degree turn from his previous attitude of evaluating the China-Canada agreement as "a good thing."

After Canada imposed a 100% tariff on Chinese electric vehicles and a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum products in 2024, Trudeau announced on January 16th in China that Canada would allow 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles to enter the country annually with a most-favored-nation tariff rate of 6.1%, with the quota increasing by a certain proportion each year. At the same time, China is expected to start investing in the Canadian automotive industry within three years and lower tariffs on Canadian canola and other agricultural products.

Professor Finn Humpston of International Affairs at Carleton University stated that Canada and China have not signed or are considering signing any free trade agreement, and the agreements reached with China "are simply restoring the status quo of certain goods before the tariff war." The U.S. signed an agreement with China a few months ago, and Trump's actions were "shocking and hypocritical."

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen also warned on ABC that if Canada further reaches a free trade agreement with China, "allowing China to dump goods into the U.S., the tariff threat could be implemented."

Yellen said, "We have the USMCA, and the agreement will be renegotiated this summer. I don't know what Trudeau is doing, except for making moral gestures to his globalist friends in Davos."

Professor Moshe Land of Concordia University analyzed that Trump's capricious attitude towards the Canada-China agreement is his usual way of doing things, with the logic being "to maintain leverage over Canada and ensure the country has no other options," to keep an advantage in the upcoming USMCA review.

The Guardian reported on the 25th that Trudeau has recently become one of the representatives of medium-sized countries advocating for enhanced cooperation to counter the American power under Trump. In his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Trudeau said, "Medium powers must act together because if you are not at the table, you will end up on the menu." Although Trudeau did not name the U.S., his remarks generated widespread attention and received a wave of praise, overshadowing Trump.

CBC noted that after his Davos speech, tensions between the U.S. and Canada further escalated. Trump criticized Trudeau's remarks in his speech and claimed, "Canada exists because of the U.S., Mark, remember that when you make these remarks next time." At the same time, he announced the withdrawal of Canada's invitation to join the Peace Council.

In response to Trump's threats, Trudeau posted a video on the 25th urging Canadians to "buy domestic products," "given our economy is facing threats from abroad, Canadians have made a choice: focus on what we can control," "we cannot control the actions of other countries. But we can be our best customers. We will buy Canadian products and build the country with Canadian products."

Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand stated that as a medium-sized country, Canada needs to ensure its own interests, "and we have already cooperated with a group of countries on multiple issues." She pointed out that protecting and enhancing Canada's economy and trade diversification is fundamental, "this is why we went to China, and this is why we will go to India. We won't put all our eggs in one basket."

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Original: toutiao.com/article/7599483627101028927/

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