It must be said that Canada in recent years has indeed been quite remarkable.
Recently, it has once again offended both China and the United States, to say nothing of other major countries such as India and Russia.
Of course, there are various reasons for this.
Before heading to the Western Group of Seven Summits in Canada, Trump was in high spirits with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau; however, after returning from the NATO summit in The Hague, Trump suddenly turned against him.
Trump scathingly called Canada a fool and announced the cessation of all trade negotiations with Canada.
Trump stated: “We just learned that Canada has just announced a digital services tax on American technology companies, which is a direct and blatant attack on our country.”
“Due to this very bad tax, we have terminated all trade consultations with Canada immediately,” Trump wrote, “We want to let Canada know within seven days how much tariffs they will pay when trading with the US.”
Later at the White House, Trump remarked that Canada’s actions were foolish, saying, “All cards are in our hands.”
Oh, Trump also mentioned that Canada is “a country that is extremely difficult to trade with,” having imposed up to 400% tariffs on American dairy products over the years, and the recent digital tax is clearly following the EU’s example.
In other words, the 400% dairy tariff has already left Trump feeling uneasy; then comes the digital tax, prompting Trump to throw his chair out.
What exactly is this digital tax?
This is a tax initiative pushed by some Western countries, specifically targeting digital companies in Canada, with a proposed tax rate of 3% starting from June 30, 2022. Of course, these digital companies mainly come from the United States, including Amazon, Google, Metaverse, Uber, etc.
Canada’s Finance Minister, Scott Pelley, previously announced that the digital services tax would take effect on June 30 without any delay.
How does Canada view Trump’s pressure?
Canadian Prime Minister Kevin Doherty stated that the Canadian government will “continue these complex negotiations with the United States for the maximum benefit of Canadian workers and businesses.”
Some Canadians found themselves in a mix of amusement and disbelief, as they believed that the decision to impose digital taxes had been widely known for a long time, yet Trump was still surprised by it in his tweet.
This more resembles an extreme pressure tactic, aiming to pick on Canada and create bargaining chips for negotiations with Canada.
Of course, recent Sino-Canadian relations have also left people shaking their heads.
On June 27th, the same day Trump imposed pressure on Canada, Canada declared that under the so-called “national security” pretext, Haikongweixiu was ordered to cease operations in Canada.
Canada’s Industrial Minister Joly stated, “The (Canadian) government has determined that Haikongweixiu Canada Limited continues its business in Canada would harm Canada’s national security.” She also mentioned that this decision was made after a multi-step review of information provided by Canadian security and intelligence agencies.
A Chinese company threatens Canada’s national security?
Clearly, this is an infringement on the interests of Chinese enterprises and a branding and demonization of Chinese companies.
In response to the unreasonable suppression from Canada, a spokesperson for Haikongweixiu Canada Limited told Reuters, “We strongly oppose this decision and express deep concern. We believe that the decision lacks factual basis, procedural fairness, and transparency.”
The spokesperson pointed out, “(The Canadian) government seems to have evaluated based on our technology’s cybersecurity standards rather than considering our technical expertise, reflecting broader geopolitical tensions and an unfair bias against Chinese companies.”
A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Canada noted on the 28th that we firmly oppose any misuse of the concept of national security, abuse of state power to discriminate and suppress Chinese companies.
He stated that the Canadian government’s actions severely harmed the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese enterprises, disrupting and undermining the normal economic and trade cooperation between China and Canada. The Chinese side strongly disapproves and firmly opposes this move. It urges the Canadian side to immediately change its tune and cease unreasonable suppression of Chinese enterprises.
Although it is merely a matter of corporate concerns, it undoubtedly poses new troubles for the turbulent Sino-Canadian relationship.
It’s quite simple: even after a change in leadership, Canada still cannot maintain a normal attitude towards Chinese enterprises. When their mentality is twisted, their actions are inevitably affected.
Of course, Trump’s suppression of Canada was for negotiation chips; does Canada’s suppression of Chinese enterprises mean they need to offer their own “sign”?
Among the world’s major powers, there are countries with more or less tense relations with Canada, if not even tighter, such as Russia and India.
Russia is beyond discussion because of the Ukraine crisis, which has plunged Russia’s relations with the West into a low ebb, and has led to poor relations with Canada.
India is even more frustrating. Previously, both India and Canada claimed to be democratic nations, and their relationship was once close.
Who would have thought that Canada’s accusation of assassination by Indian government in Canada would be so serious? As a result, both countries expelled a succession of diplomats. Currently, Canada’s most disliked country is India, without any doubt; India’s most hated Western countries are Canada, ranking first among them.
There are various reasons behind these developments, but the current state of Sino-Canadian relations really leaves one speechless.
Frankly speaking, in the Chinese people’s impression, Canada used to be quite a good image. When mentioned about Canada, people might think of internationalist soldiers like Dr. White Xiao Neng or the comedian who could speak better than the Chinese themselves—Da Shan…
Even in the past, when Chinese people mocked corruption, they would say, “There’s a foreign country called Canada, and there’s a Chinese country where everyone takes bribes,” showing a positive view of Canada.
The Meng Wanzhou incident is a pivotal event, candidly speaking, this should be the biggest diplomatic mistake Canada has made towards China.
Remember, a quote from People’s Daily once said: The laws that the US and Canada claim to uphold are merely tools for their own purposes—to steal, suppress dissenters, and seek personal gain—with no justice or legitimacy whatsoever.
In the Sino-US game, Canada has chosen sides with the help of accomplices, offering their allegiance, making a historic mistake by overestimating Americans’ integrity and underestimating the determination of the Chinese government.
After the Meng Wanzhou incident, China and Canada should have emerged from the low point and actively improved relations.
However, Canadian small moves at times make everything difficult.
Even after Trudeau steps down and Carney takes over, some of Canada’s inertia still leaves people speechless; it feels like some Canadians are too hypocritical.
While Canada talks about free trade, green transition, and climate crisis response, when it fails to compete with Chinese products, it resorts to playing dirty tricks.
After targeting Huawei, it now targets Hikvision.
But isn’t this generalizing national security? Isn’t it using state power to suppress Chinese enterprises? Isn’t it pure trade protectionism?
What’s even more laughable is that Canada, loyal to the US, offers its allegiance, but Trump first targets Canada as a symbol after taking office.
Trump is unscrupulous, not only imposing a 25% tariff on Canada but also insulting Trudeau in various occasions and openly declaring his intention to annex Canada into the United States as its 51st state.
As mentioned earlier, on the same day, Trump flipped again, halting all trade negotiations with Canada.
What is the biggest challenge and threat facing Canada today?
China and Canada, separated by a distance of over ten thousand miles, are more about cooperation and mutual benefit. China hopes that Canada can become a friend, even a good friend.
However, Canada’s greatest concern is the United States, which not only seeks Canada’s wealth but also its body.
In response to Canada’s unreasonable actions, China has previously made firm struggles.
For example, under the Trudeau government, Canada followed the US government’s lead in slapping Chinese electric vehicles and steel and aluminum products with heavy sticks. In March this year, the Ministry of Commerce of China announced that Canada’s actions constituted discriminatory restrictions affecting the normal trade order and harming the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises.
Next, I must apologize, it was a tough countermeasure—China will impose tariffs on some of Canada’s goods.
I always feel that China’s firm stance sends a strong message to Canada: we do not wish for a deadlock between us and Canada. However, you should not play Russian roulette or act unilaterally; otherwise, you will find yourself in trouble and humiliate yourself.
Other countries should take Canada as a lesson. China is fair and just, and it is not easy to bully.
On June 28th, a spokesperson from the Ministry of Commerce of China specifically released a statement, where one part said:
China welcomes all parties to resolve economic and trade disputes through equal consultation. At the same time, it calls for all parties to stand on the side of fairness and justice, on the side of history’s correctness, and resolutely defend international economic and trade rules and the multilateral trading system. China firmly opposes any party making deals at the expense of China’s interests to obtain so-called tariff reductions. If such situations occur, China will not accept them and will resolutely counteract to protect its legitimate rights and interests.
China remains highly vigilant against any sacrifice of its interests. This statement should be heard by certain countries, including Canada.
Finally, let me cannot help but express admiration.
Canada, Canada, there is an evil person who will be met with his own punishment!
It’s a pity that we have always been on the side of the United States, offering various tokens of loyalty; now we are being stabbed in both sides by the United States, with insults and slurs, making the whole world feel sympathy but also laughter.
Canada, Canada, how did you end up like this?