‘We don’t want China to take over Canada’: Trump threatens action over Beijing trade talks

US President Donald Trump steps off Marine One on the South Lawn upon arrival at the White House in Washington, DC, on February 1, 2026. (Photo by Aaron Schwartz / AFP)

Trump warned Canada against a trade deal with China, threatening “very substantial” action if Ottawa proceeds. Canadian PM Carney stated Canada has no intention of such a pact and remains committed to the Canada-US-Mexico Agreement’s rules.

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US President Donald Trump has once again warned Canada against pursuing a trade agreement with China, saying Washington would take “very substantial” action if Ottawa moved ahead with such a deal, according to Reuters.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump claimed that a China–Canada trade pact would allow Beijing to gain excessive influence over its northern neighbour.

“We don’t want China to take over Canada. And if they make the deal that [President Xi] is looking to make, China will take over Canada. And the first thing they’re going to do is end ice hockey,” Trump said.

The US President reiterated that Washington would respond forcefully if Canada proceeded with the agreement.

“If they do a deal with China, yeah, we’ll do something very substantial,” Trump said, as quoted by Reuters.

Trump has previously threatened to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on Canadian goods if Ottawa entered into a trade arrangement with Beijing, framing the issue as a national security and economic risk for the United States.

The remarks came as Trump also struck a comparatively conciliatory tone on Iran, suggesting that Tehran was “talking to” Washington even as the US continued to deploy military assets in the region.

Canada, however, has sought to distance itself from the idea of a formal trade pact with China. Earlier this month, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Ottawa had “no intention” of going forward with such a deal.

“What we’ve done with China is to rectify some issues that have developed in the last couple of years,” Carney told reporters in Ottawa, referring to trade disputes involving Chinese-made electric vehicles as well as agricultural and fish products.

Carney also emphasised that Canada remains committed to the Canada–US–Mexico Agreement. Under the pact, member countries are required to notify each other before negotiating free trade agreements with non-market economies such as China.

He said Canada would adhere to those rules and had no plans to pursue a trade agreement with Beijing.