Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has urged citizens and businesses to stand behind Canadian-made products. His appeal comes as tensions grow with the United States over Canada’s possible trade links with China.
The message followed a sharp warning from US President Donald Trump. Trump threatened to impose a 100% tariff on Canadian imports if Ottawa deepens its economic engagement with Beijing.
“Buy Canadian” message to the nation
In a video message shared on X, Carney outlined what he believes is Canada’s best response to external pressure. He said the country should focus on areas it can control.
“With our economy under threat from abroad, Canadians have made a choice: to focus on what we can control,” he said, encouraging people to back local businesses and products.
He reinforced the message with another strong line from his address. “We can’t control what other nations do. We can be our own best customer. We’ll buy Canadian. We’ll build Canadian. Together we will build stronger.”
Trump issues stark tariff warning
Carney’s remarks came after Trump issued a public warning on his social media platform. The US president said Canada would face severe consequences if it moved forward with a trade deal involving China.
Trump wrote that if Canada “makes a deal with China, it will immediately be hit with a 100% tariff against all Canadian goods and products coming into the USA.” He also claimed that “China will eat Canada alive, completely devour it, including the destruction of their businesses, social fabric, and general way of life.”
Concerns over Chinese goods and US markets
Trump also questioned Canada’s intentions under Carney’s leadership. He suggested Canada could become a transit route for Chinese products entering the US market.
In his post, he wrote that “if Governor Carney thinks he is going to make Canada a ‘Drop Off Port’ for China to send goods … he is sorely mistaken.” The remarks added to the growing strain between the two countries.
Canada looks inward as pressure mounts
Carney’s push to “Buy Canadian” is aimed at strengthening domestic resilience during a period of trade uncertainty. He has stressed that Canada should not rely entirely on external markets, especially when facing pressure from larger economies.
The tariff dispute comes as Carney’s government looks to diversify Canada’s trade relationships. This includes recent engagement with China, which has drawn criticism from Washington.
Canadian officials have said they are not seeking a full free trade agreement with China. Instead, they are focusing on resolving tariff-related issues and building stable economic partnerships while protecting Canada’s interests.