U.S. President Donald Trump warned on Saturday that he would impose 100% tariffs on all Canadian imports if Ottawa finalises a trade agreement with China, escalating pressure on Canada as it seeks to deepen commercial ties with Beijing.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said Canada would face sweeping trade penalties “immediately” if it moved forward with a deal with China, framing the issue as a national-security and trade-enforcement concern for the United States. He also used the term “governor” to refer to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, language Trump has used previously in remarks about Canada’s leadership.
The warning came one day after the Canadian government said a preliminary trade agreement with China was close to being signed, a step Ottawa has presented as part of efforts to improve market access and reduce certain bilateral trade barriers amid weaker global growth.
Trump Canada tariffs threat targets full range of imports
Trump’s statement suggested the proposed measure would apply across sectors, with no carve-outs. While he did not publish a detailed tariff schedule, he wrote that there would be “no exception,” indicating that the penalty would cover the full spectrum of Canadian goods entering the U.S. market.
The president argued that a Canada-China deal could allow Chinese products to enter the United States indirectly, describing Canada as a potential transshipment point. He accused China of seeking to expand its economic influence and warned of consequences for Canada’s economy and society if it aligned more closely with Beijing.
Ottawa’s China talks collide with U.S. trade pressure
Canada and the United States are major trading partners with tightly integrated supply chains, particularly in automotive manufacturing, energy, agriculture and industrial goods. A blanket 100% tariff would represent a sharp escalation in a relationship anchored by the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
The Canadian government has not publicly detailed all provisions of the proposed preliminary agreement with China, but has said it is focused on lowering certain tariffs and easing trade frictions. The announcement has drawn scrutiny in Washington at a time when the U.S. administration is pressing allies and partners to reduce economic dependence on China and tighten enforcement against what it describes as trade circumvention.
Next steps and market implications
Trump’s threat adds uncertainty for Canadian exporters and manufacturers that rely on stable access to the U.S. market, and it raises the stakes for Ottawa as it balances trade diversification efforts with managing U.S. tariff risks.
Neither the White House nor Canada’s Prime Minister’s Office released further operational details on Saturday about how the proposed tariff would be implemented, or whether Washington would pursue additional measures if Canada proceeds with the China agreement.
