Canada Has No Plans to Pursue Free Trade with China: PM Carney
Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney has made it clear that his country has no intention of pursuing a free trade deal with China. In response to US President Donald Trump's threat to impose a 100% tariff on goods imported from Canada if the latter were to proceed with a trade agreement with Beijing, Carney said that his recent agreement with China was merely aimed at cutting tariffs on specific sectors.
The Canadian PM asserted that under the free trade agreement between Canada and the US and Mexico, there are commitments not to pursue free trade agreements with non-market economies without prior notification. "We have no intention of doing that with China or any other non-market economy," Carney stated. This comes after Canada recently mirrored the US in imposing 100% tariffs on electric vehicles from Beijing and a 25% tariff on steel and aluminium.
Carney's remarks are seen as an attempt to push back against Trump's aggressive stance, particularly over his push to acquire Greenland. The Canadian PM has emerged as a leader of a movement among middle powers to counter the US under Trump, warning about coercion by great powers without naming names.
In a surprising move, Carney cut Canada's 100% tariff on Chinese electric cars in return for lower tariffs on those Canadian products. He also proposed an initial annual cap of 49,000 vehicles on Chinese EV exports coming into Canada at a tariff rate of 6.1%, growing to about 70,000 over five years.
Carney's comments have been met with praise from some quarters and ridicule from others, including Trump, who accused him of "virtue-signaling" to his globalist friends. The Canadian PM's stance has also sparked debate in the business community, with some calling for Canada to pursue a more assertive trade policy.
Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney has made it clear that his country has no intention of pursuing a free trade deal with China. In response to US President Donald Trump's threat to impose a 100% tariff on goods imported from Canada if the latter were to proceed with a trade agreement with Beijing, Carney said that his recent agreement with China was merely aimed at cutting tariffs on specific sectors.
The Canadian PM asserted that under the free trade agreement between Canada and the US and Mexico, there are commitments not to pursue free trade agreements with non-market economies without prior notification. "We have no intention of doing that with China or any other non-market economy," Carney stated. This comes after Canada recently mirrored the US in imposing 100% tariffs on electric vehicles from Beijing and a 25% tariff on steel and aluminium.
Carney's remarks are seen as an attempt to push back against Trump's aggressive stance, particularly over his push to acquire Greenland. The Canadian PM has emerged as a leader of a movement among middle powers to counter the US under Trump, warning about coercion by great powers without naming names.
In a surprising move, Carney cut Canada's 100% tariff on Chinese electric cars in return for lower tariffs on those Canadian products. He also proposed an initial annual cap of 49,000 vehicles on Chinese EV exports coming into Canada at a tariff rate of 6.1%, growing to about 70,000 over five years.
Carney's comments have been met with praise from some quarters and ridicule from others, including Trump, who accused him of "virtue-signaling" to his globalist friends. The Canadian PM's stance has also sparked debate in the business community, with some calling for Canada to pursue a more assertive trade policy.
I'm not surprised by Carney's stance, to be honest 
. As someone who's lived through many trade agreements and tariffs 
, it's clear that China isn't exactly known for being transparent about its intentions 
. Canada has to protect itself from getting taken advantage of 
.
. The fact that Carney called out the US on this issue shows he's willing to stand up for his country 
, even if it means not having a free trade deal with China 
. It's time for middle powers like Canada to be more assertive and not be pushed around by great powers 
.
, but that's just a minor quibble 
. Overall, I applaud his willingness to take a stand against China's aggressive trade practices 
I get why Carney's trying to push back at Trump, but it feels like he's just being a bit too cool 2 b on the international stage 
! I thought Canada and China were gonna be all about that free trade life 
.
especially considering how much china and the us are going at each other these days 
maybe its time for canada to be more proactive about its trade policies and not just react to what the us is doing 
. Personally, I think it's a good move, maybe they're just not interested in playing by China's rules?
. I mean, kudos to him for not caving under Trump's pressure and showing China that Canada is a player 
. The 49k vehicle cap is a solid compromise too - it's like he found the perfect balance between being friendly with China and keeping Canadian interests in mind 
.
. Like, I'm totally here for it! We need more leaders who aren't afraid to stand up for themselves and their countries 
.
, and I'm excited to see where things go from here 
.
especially when it comes to trade deals like this one. china is a huge market and if canada doesn't take advantage of that then they're gonna be missing out on some serious cash 
i don't think canada should try to appease him by cutting the tariff on chinese electric cars just yet 
anyway, it's interesting to see carney pushing back against trump's aggression like this 
.
and honestly I kinda admire his move 
they're not gonna go down without a fight over Greenland or anything else, mark my words 
his whole "we're just cutting tariffs on specific sectors" thing is actually pretty smart 
and yeah, the 100% tariff on Chinese electric cars was a weird move but I guess it shows that Carney's willing to make some compromises 
. also, trump's reaction is pretty typical of his style 
, trying to bully others into doing what he wants 
, even if the US president isn't happy about it 
. But at the same time, you have to wonder if this is a strategic move or just a bold stance for its own sake 
. One minute Carney is all about cutting tariffs on specific sectors, the next he's proposing a super low tariff rate of 6.1% - that's crazy talk 
It feels like everyone involved is just trying to one-up each other and get attention 
. Can't we all just get along and negotiate like adults? 