The Trudeau-Carney Liberals have been utterly mum on the announcement of 100% tariffs from China over the weekend — a stark contrast to their reaction to tariffs from the US.
Outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, prime minister-elect Mark Carney, Ontario premier Doug Ford, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre — the list goes on — all blatantly spoke out loudly against threats from President Donald Trump’s threat to impose 25% tariffs on Canadian goods.
Canadian leaders across the board in lockstep have declared Canada needs to “fight back” against Trump, calling the tariffs an “existential threat” and threatening to impose retaliatory tariffs and even cut off energy and electricity to the Americans.
Ford on Monday morning announced he is immediately slapping a 25% surcharge on residents and businesses in three US states for access to Ontario's hydro and said he wouldn’t think twice to shut it down altogether if Trump retaliates.
Former Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, who lost to Carney in Sunday’s leadership race, said on the debate stage the US has gone from friend to foe — “a predatory threat,” she said — and Canada should align against the US with countries who possess nuclear weapons.
Both the federal Liberals and Conservatives have made Trump, tensions with the US and the tariff war primary talking points as they prepare for the campaign trail, as an election could now be called at any time.
Despite all the showmanship around the American president, all the above mentioned Canadian leaders have failed to even publicly acknowledge the fact that China imposed a 100% tariff on all rapeseed (used for canola oil), oil cakes and peas, plus a 25% tariff “on aquatic products and pork originating in Canada.”
The silence from Canadian authorities raises a number of questions: Why are leaders willing to go neck-and-neck with the far more powerful United States but shy away from condemning the Chinese communists for the same, or worse, punishment?
The tariff will go into effect March 20. China’s ministry of finance released a statement over the weekend announcing the tariffs are in response to a 100% tariff on Chinese electric vehicles Ottawa imposed on Beijing on October 1 and a 25% tariff on Chinese steel and aluminum on October 22.
“Canada's unilateral imposition of tariffs disregards objective facts and World Trade Organization rules, is a typical trade protectionist practice, constitutes a discriminatory measure against China, seriously infringes on China's legitimate rights and interests, and undermines China-Canada economic and trade relations,” wrote the ministry in a press release.
“In accordance with the Tariff Law of the People's Republic of China, the Customs Law of the People's Republic of China, the Foreign Trade Law of the People's Republic of China and other laws and regulations and basic principles of international law, and with the approval of the State Council, the State Council Tariff Commission issued an announcement that, from March 20, 2025, a 100% tariff will be imposed on rapeseed oil, oil cakes and peas originating in Canada; a 25% tariff will be imposed on aquatic products and pork originating in Canada.”
“China urges Canada to view bilateral economic and trade cooperation rationally, respect objective facts, abide by the rules of the World Trade Organization and immediately correct its wrong practices,” added the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
The only response China’s announcement prompted among Canadian officials is a lukewarm joint statement from Liberals Trade Minister MP Mary Ng, of Chinese heritage, Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay and Fisheries Minister Diane Lebouthillier.
Ng was named in investigative journalist Sam Cooper's analysis of the NSICOP (National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians) report that found some parliamentarians were found to be working, wittingly or otherwise, on behalf of a foreign entity, namely Beijing, to interfere with Canadian elections.
“Today, China announced the conclusion of a domestic ‘anti-discrimination’ investigation that it launched against Canada on September 26, 2024. The investigation resulted in the announcement of unjustified tariffs on Canadian canola oil and meal, peas, fish, seafood and pork products and is scheduled to enter into force on March 20, 2025,” wrote the Liberals.
“Canada does not accept the premise of China’s investigation, nor its findings. We are deeply disappointed with China’s announced measures.
“We are steadfast in our commitment to defend Canadian workers and we will stand shoulder-to-shoulder in our support for Canada’s hard-working farmers and fishers in the agricultural and fishing sectors, who will be impacted by the measures that China regrettably announced today.”
In 2024, Canada exported $920.9 million in canola to China, along with $303.6 million in peas, $1.3 billion in fish and seafood products and $468.6 million in pork products, according to the Government of Canada.