The American President, the American people, the American media are all consumed right now with Iran. And the price of gas. And the cost of groceries. And even the deterioration of US democracy, gerrymandering, women’s, gay, abortion rights and, of course, the Epstein files.
But 10 years from now … when today’s “news” fades into history … the BIGGEST gaffe, blunder of the Trump administration … his legacy … will be how the US let China plant itself so firmly along America’s northern border … in Canada!
The Mad Hatter, for months, has insulted, demeaned, threatened, bullied and tariffed its once most loyal, supportive, integrated ally for more than a year now … and has hurt it badly, in more ways than one.
Canada lost 18,000 more jobs in April, bringing the total to more than 100,000 jobs lost since January 1st, mostly due to US tariffs on our steel, aluminum, auto parts and forest products .
The Canadian economy is bleeding.
BUT the tariffs also cost United States auto industry an estimated $12.5 Billion in 2025 alone; 42% of US firms have reported supply chain disruptions; 63% complain of higher costs; and, 53% have reported reduced profits.
And Canadians are pushing back … hard!
America’s border towns/cities/businesses are suffering huge losses as Canadian shoppers stay away in droves; tourism in many US states has been badlywounded; the American cruise industry is missing thousands of Canadian passengers; and, US beer/wine/spirits producers are literally crying in their suds as all but two provinces ban, and millions of Canadians boycott their goods.
However, the worst long-term impact of Trump/America’s “war” against Canada has almost completely been unnoticed or ignored by the American President, the American people, the American media: how China is moving in to take up the slack … and increase its stake, its investment, its presence, its influence in Canada.
In January, Prime Minister Mark Carney visited China, his office explaining “As the world’s second-largest economy, China presents enormous opportunities for Canada in this mission.”
“Canada’s new government is working with urgency and determination to diversify our trade partnerships and catalyse massive new levels of investment,” the PMO announced.
In other words: Welcome back to Canada, the People’s Republic of China … our former foe!
Last month, Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne led a trade mission to China, noting “”China is the second-largest economy and our second-largest trading partner, so you have to engage.”
Other federal Ministers making pilgrimages to China: Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand: Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald; and, Minister of International Trade Maninder Sidhu.
BC Premier David Eby will also be leading a trade mission to China this year … “to deliver the message that B.C. is a predictable and dependable trading partner amidst global uncertainty, caused first by U.S. tariffs and now by the war in Iran,” the Agassiz-Harrison Observer noted.
““We are a stable jurisdiction in a very unstable time,” Eby said.
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe led a delegation to China last September; Alberta’s Agriculture Minister is heading there with his trade officials soon; and, in February the Manitoba government “exchanged letters of co-operation with the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association (HKCBA) and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC).”
And China has responded with warm welcomes, smiles and several new agreements.
Canada will allow China to ship up to 49,000 electric vehicles (that’s just the start) to Canada, at only a 6.9% tariff rate … down from the 100% former tariff rate imposed when our auto trade was highly tied to the US; China has renewed its interest in Canadian resources (LNG/Oil/Mining); promoting increased co-operation with Canada in developing batteries, solar panels, wind technologies; building more ferries/ships; and, watch for increasing Chinese interest and investment in major infrastructure projects.
In return, China has already reduced or eliminated its former crippling ban/tariffs on Canadian canola, soy, seafoods, beef, wood products. (The 25% tariff on Canadian pork may also be reduced or eliminated too!)
And how’s this: Canadians can now enter China without a visa for up to 30 days for tourism, business and family visits.
Clearly, Trump and America’s attacks/tariffs/war on Canada have forced us to set aside … and maybe even forget … how China held our two Michaels hostage for more than 1,000 days, its abuse of the Uyghurs, the lack of human rights (FREE JIMMY LAI!!!) , it’s support for the oppressive regime in Iran and the murderous Putin and Russia in its Ukraine War.
China has made substantial inroads with Canada in a very short time … taking advantage of Trump’s terrible mishandling of this nation … and will no doubt try to expand and enhance its interests/presence/influence here even more over the next two years.
Does anyone doubt China won’t use its substantially increased investment/trade/imports ties to influence/pressure/soften Canada’s criticisms and even actions on the world stage? (In fact, I’d say that has already started!)
Amazing that Trump/US administration/people/media, as they face increased animosity and isolation in the world, haven’t noticed China’s renewed/expanding ties with Canada, are too stupid … or just don’t care.
Until the US wakes up with a strengthened, empowered, entrenched China dug in deep, right at its back door … in Canada.
It’s then that history will chastise and condemn Trump/administration for letting Canada … a once reliable, loyal neighbour and trustworthy ally slip so easily into China’s grasp!
Harv Oberfeld
🇨🇦🇨🇦Check the labels. Buy Canadian!🇨🇦🇨🇦
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President Trump has pushed Canada closer to China. Without question, he also created the conditions for the Liberals to remain in power. It’s not really surprising because Liberals like the Trudeaus and now Mr. Carney have never met a communist they don’t like. The Chinese are very clever, and they know that money talks. Their influence over Canada will continue to grow in the future.
(Response: China historically has had no problem flexing its muscles and punishing trading “partners” that do something that displeases it, by imposing tariffs or funding phoney reasons to ban imports etc. And if Canada becomes increasingly dependent on China, we will become increasingly vulnerable to those kinds of actions… even interference in our domestic policies and international stands/pronouncements. I’m sure Carney is well aware of the dangers, but given Trump’s actions and impacts, he has little choice. It’s the US that should wake up and realize that their anti-Canada attacks will be to China’s advantage in the long run. Ho)
I share the misgivings of dealing with China and all that entails, however, Carney and the feds gotta do what they gotta do and I’m convinced he is well aware of the downsides, and I do agree with you Harvey there is probably some tough cusma news coming so Carney has to deal with that sooner rather than later and get out on front when and where he can.
When the two Michaels were held, that was in retaliation for doing the first trump administration a favor by holding Meng Wanzhou on an extradition request (which after a couple of years went nowhere) along with other various Chinese tariffs in retaliation for the 100% tariffs on imported Chinese electric vehicles also doing the americans a favor. So much for that.
And I believe Carney is looking at a longer timeline than just the hope things will change at either the mid terms in November or the next presidential election. trump has shown what is possible and has laid out a road map and how to achieve it. He will be gone at some stage but what he has created can quite easily continue, along with no shortage of people willing to go along with scraping the bottom of the barrell. The american voters despite knowing exactly what they were getting with trump re-elected him anyway.
As Daniel noted;
Canada is not the only country actively trying to diversify trade away from the U S.
Per Google the list as follows:
The European Union, Japan, Southeast Asia, South Korea, Asian nations including Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei and Vietnam.
South America and some countries in the Mecosur bloc, although some include China as well as the U S.
Diversifying trade away from the states as they are unreliable and can’t be trusted is a motive to do so when and wherever, but also insulate as much as possible from the american voter.
(Response: There are good reasons I refer to China’s increased trade/investments in Canada as Trump’s biggest Gaffe, not Carney’s. As you noted “Carney and the feds gotta do what they gotta do” in the face of Trump/US tariffs/barriers/attacks on Canada. But I don’t sense the US administration … or the American people generally … fully realize the long-term damage of their actions/insults and how that will weaken support/co-operation by Canada with the US, not just economically, but on the world stage, as the Canadian government/industries/workers become more involved/closer/dependent on China and Chinese investment, resource development, purchases and jobs. Ho)
According to the Atlas of Economic Complexity, based on 2024 economic data the US is our largest export market taking 74% of our exports. China is second at 6%, and the UK third at 3.5%. Canada’s trade is in low complexity goods, as stated by the research “Canada has seen a troubling pattern of export growth, with the largest contribution to export growth coming from moderate and low complexity products, particularly Mineral fuels, oils and waxes and Travel & tourism.” and with regard to vehicles “economic growth in Canada has been hindered by concentrating in a declining sector of global exports.” So we have a long way to go to replace US trade.
Don’t trust the banker side of Carney, are we being setup for resource give away. As well I find it ironic how Canadians react to comments about becoming the 51st state, but according to polling would welcome becoming the 28th state in the EU. Yes we need trading partners, but we need to guide our own economy and direct that economy to goals that meet Canadian needs.
(Response: When your largest export market cuts you off in a major way, you get desperate to find new ways for your people to feed themselves. And the danger is that a country like China will see your weakened position and try to take advantage… lowball pricing your exports, demanding greater access for their own goods and even trying to have greater influence on your global
policies/positions. Frankly, I sympathize with Carney’s limited choices … but the US should realize that, years down the road, the US too will pay the price for Trump’s gaffe in pushing Canada into China’s sphere of influence. Ho)
Cue up, yet another rendition of the timeless, oft ignored, always pertinent, “Laws of unintended consequences”!
We have had decades to insulate ourselves from fiscal malarky & return to our past as a nation which produces finished goods for export.
We also need to stop shopping at the floating landfills which arrive daily from China! We yap off about not catering to one POTUS but instantly flee to Xi, self appointed leader for life? Xi who cares not an iota about any of us, we’re just morons who passive aggressively complain from time to time while he carries on without batting an eye.
Canada cannot carry on merely supplying raw resources to others, we need to mechanize & manufacture. The opportunity is real, the opposition is China, elbows up or grab your ankles for the inevitable, wait, Carney’s already grabbed his ankles as our representative???
Trump will be Dodo in 2&1/2 years, severely neutered by December, XI is Leader for life, with a horde of similar replacements. Stop comparing them, they are not at all similar!
Having lived surrounded by, competing with Mandarin Chinese for decades, I know they are far from honourable, trustworthy or dependable!
The “Laws of unintended consequences” are absolute, our kneejerk PM is completely & totally ignorant of such, this will not go well for our nation going forward, am I the only one who sees Xi for what he is?
Drive down #3 road from Alderbridge to Cambie, that will be most of Metro Vancouver in 2 decades! Invite the world, surrender your identity, assimilate into Bejing……
(Response: Anyone who has read this blog for a while knows I’m no supporter of China or the dictatorship that runs it. But I think Carney knows more than he is telling us about the long-term difficulties we are about to face in trying to negotiate a new CUSMA agreement with the US … so he’s reaching out wherever he can to find alternative markets and investors, and China can’t be ignored. So we’ll close our eyes to their human rights violations, the wanton executions of prisoners so they can harvest their organs, the arrests of protestors and media voices who support democracy, the brutal treatment of the Uighurs, China’s support for oppressive murderous regimes like Russia and Iran, and China’s repeated interference in Canadian domestic politics. BUT it’s the US that will pay the highest price: when they wake up after Trump and realize how much China has increase its influence and power right on their northern border. Ho)
Canada is not the only country actively trying to diversify trade away from the U S.
Per Google the list as follows:
The European Union, Japan, Southeast Asia, South Korea, Asian nations including Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei and Vietnam.
South America and some countries in the Mecosur bloc, although some include China as well as the U S.
I am not sure what the total dollar figure is that America will eventually lose because of this gaffe with us and these other nations, but the amount must be staggering. Unbelievable.
(Response: You’re absolutely correct. Canada and Canadians aren’t the only ones hurt, angry and feeling animosity towards the US as a result of Trump’s tariffs, bullying, insults and ignorance (seems totally unaware of actions/sacrifices many “allies” have made to support in its many conflicts over the past 50 years …and more … especially after 911 and in Afghanistan. And which country is now benefitting most? China! This just weeks ago from The Mirror in the UK: “The US has has long ranked as the world ’s top vacation destination with tourists flocking to places like Disney World and Times Square, but China is now on track to become the world’s top tourism economy in the next few years, Bloomberg news agency reported.” And, from Fortune Magazine: “Tourism had a record-breaking 2025 everywhere but the U.S., report finds, as international visitor numbers plummet by the millions.” And there are reports many Europeans also are boycotting US products whenever they can. But the big problem for the US is that, even after Trump is gone and Europeans etc ease up … China will still have a much greater presence in Canada … giving America a long-time headache! Ho)
Johnston & Daniel said it all along with HO.. no more comment needed
I have no idea how representative it is, but most “Americans” I speak with still have little idea of what goes on in the rest of the world, and many don’t know what goes on outside their own state.
And I think that can be said for a lot of the US media as well.
Those traveling north, are incredibly apologetic, embarrassed and of the notion things will return to “normal” the day after Trump leaves, in a limo or on a cadaver cart.
They simply do not understand the depth of shattered trust, here and globally.
One concern I have, is that we do not get in too deep with China; they think much farther ahead than almost anyone. The other is that the Democrats are complacently assuming the mid-terms will fix everything, when they should have a raging fire in their bellies.
Any one of Newsom, Kelly or Buttigieg is Kamala Harris 2.0.
(Response: I agree: most Americans have little idea of what goes on in the rest of the world, except where the US is intimately involved … usually in conflicts. Those in the know are mostly highly apologetic to Canada, but few realize how bad the impact has actually been on Canada and also the US in terms of jobs and costs. But their “leaders” and their media “experts” should know … and be really concerned at how Carney is serious about reducing our reliance on the US and is welcoming, re-habilitating, expanding our contacts/trade/investments with China in a BIG way. And once more firmly entrenched in our economy, China will strongly resist any change ..even after Trump is gone and the US starts to “make nice” with Canada and other alienated former allies. Ho)
The U S sits there navel gazing while the rest of the world is working diligently to find new markets and trading partners who are dependant, stable, and truthful without changing the rules at the drop of a hat. Canada’s relationship with the U S will never be the same again. I’m convinced our new partners will develop strategies and opportunities that are mutually beneficial, built to last for many years. It sounds like there is a lot of work going on in the background and we should be patient.
On May 9 2026 democratic Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin attended the Global Progress Action Summit in Toronto. I’m quoting here when she said”Canada should be cautious in its growing engagement in China” referring to the 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles we are allowing into our country. It sounded a bit like an admonishment. That we are perhaps too naive to realise the consequences of our actions.
If our actions aren’t what they like to hear, then they are irritants. Always my way or the highway.
I am amazed that the U S media hasn’t delved into what is actually going on all over the world and how this mad man’s actions are altering the fate of their country forever. History will not be kind to him. It will make Richard Nixon look like a choir boy. Quite a far cry from that Nobel Peace medal he once coveted.
The sooner he is gone, the better.
(Response: Many Americans, embarrassed by Trump and holding positive opinions of Canada, believe our relationship will return to “normal” once Trump is gone. They are naive. First of all, Carney has made it clear his government wants Canada to NEVER AGAIN be so closely tied to the US; he is working very hard to diversify, including more and stronger economic ties with China; and, China will fight hard to keep its new Canada-China links, trade, co-operation and investments growing … to maintain and multiply its best opportunity in decades to have new influence right on America’s doorstep. Ho)
I almost fell off my chair when the very same Democratic Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin, complained that the BYD cars will be taking photos and GPS locations as they travel, spying on us.
Um……we already have cars taking photos and GPS locations in Canada, courtesy of Google. Is this the best she can do?
It’s like having the Marx Brother’s running the show down south!
I do not think the Americans clearly understand the massive damage Trump has done with Canadian/American relations.
Even today, I saw an American politician from Michigan in Canada, basically say the problems are really our fault, a “pissing match”. REALLY?
For too long the USA has treated Canada as a “useful neighbour”, but nothing more.
For far too long Canadian politicians prostrated themselves with easy money from US trade.
That’s gone, as Carney desperately tries to find new markets and make new agreements to keep the Canadian economy on track.
Americans were never our friends, just a respectful neighbour who always overlooked American bombast and apologized, even when the USA should apologist.
That’s gone and the winner in all this, as you said China.
Joni Mitchell’s Big Yellow Taxi comes to mind.
“You didn’t know what you had until it is gone……”
All because the American political and legal systems have utterly failed, supported by those 37% of voters who still think Trump is tops, will be seen by American historians as the last straw at the demise of the American Empire.
(Response: Countries need not be “friends”, but allies sharing and pursuing joint interests for mutual benefit. Trump unilaterally upended that with his totally one-sided attacks, insults, lies and attempts to demean and bully. Some believe it’s just part of his “shtick” as the CUSMA negotiations approach, but he under-estimated Canadians’ and Carney’s reaction … not to negotiate from a position of weakness, but to look elsewhere for new/expanded trading partners. China sees that as a BIG opportunity: to nail down for itself a much larger stake for reliable Canadian resources; to make Canada more dependent …and less critical on the world stage … regarding China; and, to seriously expand China’s LONG-TERM exports/presence/influence/footprint right on the doorstep of the United States. America will come to regret’s Trump’s aggression towards Canada more than Canadians will! Ho)