OTTAWA / WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump reignited tensions with Canada on Saturday by referring to Prime Minister Mark Carney as “governor” and warning that Ottawa could face sweeping 100 per cent tariffs if it deepens its economic relationship with China.
The remarks, posted on Trump’s Truth Social account, mark the first time he has used the “governor” taunt against Carney — language he previously directed at former prime minister Justin Trudeau — and come amid growing strain between Washington and Ottawa following Carney’s recent diplomatic and trade engagements.
Trump accused the Canadian government of attempting to turn the country into a transit hub for Chinese exports into the United States, claiming such a move would undermine U.S. trade protections.
“If Governor Carney thinks he is going to make Canada a ‘Drop Off Port’ for China to send goods into the United States, he is sorely mistaken,” Trump wrote, adding that any deal with Beijing would result in an immediate 100 per cent tariff on Canadian goods entering the U.S.
The threat escalates an already tense trade environment. The United States currently imposes tariffs of up to 35 per cent on Canadian goods that do not meet CUSMA rules-of-origin requirements, as well as 50 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports.
Canada defends China engagement
Trump’s comments followed Carney’s visit to Beijing last week, where Canada and China announced a tariff-quota agreement involving Chinese electric vehicles and Canadian agricultural exports. Canadian officials have emphasized that the deal does not amount to a free trade agreement.
Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc rejected Trump’s characterization, stating that Ottawa is not pursuing a free trade pact with China.
“There is no pursuit of a free trade deal with China,” LeBlanc said. “What was achieved was resolution on several important tariff issues.”
LeBlanc reiterated that Canada remains focused on maintaining a strong economic and security partnership with the United States, while also working to diversify global trade relationships.
Carney urges Canadians to ‘buy Canadian’
In response to the tariff threat, Carney doubled down on his government’s “buy Canadian” policy, urging citizens and institutions to support domestic businesses and workers.
“With our economy under threat from abroad, Canadians are choosing to focus on what we can control,” Carney said in a social media post. He added that Ottawa would prioritize Canadian suppliers and labour in housing, infrastructure, and defence procurement.
“We can’t control what other nations do,” Carney said. “We can be our own best customer.”
Mixed reactions from cabinet and provinces
Justice Minister Sean Fraser downplayed Trump’s rhetoric, saying he places little weight on the president’s social media comments.
“He is the prime minister of Canada, a G7 economy,” Fraser said, adding that the government’s focus remains on strengthening Canada’s economic resilience and expanding into new markets.
Culture Minister Marc Miller acknowledged the seriousness of Trump’s remarks but stressed that Canada must focus on domestic priorities.
“You take these things seriously,” Miller said. “But we have to control what we control.”
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew also pushed back against Trump’s comments, saying Canada’s sovereignty is not up for debate and rejecting any suggestion that the country could be overtaken economically or politically.
Relations strained after Davos
The dispute comes days after the Trump administration excluded Canada from a U.S.-led “Board of Peace” initiative related to Gaza’s reconstruction. It also follows criticism from U.S. officials after Carney’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he warned that the global order is shifting and urged middle powers to resist economic coercion by larger states.
European leaders echoed those remarks during the forum, further amplifying Carney’s message — and drawing scrutiny from Washington.
Trump later intensified his rhetoric in a separate post, claiming China could “take over” Canada, a statement Canadian officials have dismissed as baseless.
As diplomatic tensions rise, Ottawa continues to signal that it will defend its economic sovereignty while seeking to balance relations with both Washington and Beijing.