US President Donald Trump’s aggressive and unpredictable tariff strategy is beginning to redraw global trade alignments, with long-standing US partners actively seeking alternatives — and China emerging as a key beneficiary.Canada delivered the clearest signal yet of this shift on Friday, cutting its 100% import tax on Chinese electric vehicles in exchange for sharply lower Chinese tariffs on Canadian farm exports, especially canola seeds. The move marks a striking departure from Ottawa’s earlier alignment with Washington on China trade.“It’s a huge declaration of realignment in Canada’s economic relations,” said Edward Alden, senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. “The economic threat from the United States is now perceived by Canadians as far bigger than the economic threat from China. So this is a big deal.’’
Allies look beyond US market
Canada is not alone. As Trump imposes sweeping tariffs on imports from nearly every country — alongside targeted levies on sectors such as steel and automobiles — major economies are accelerating efforts to reduce dependence on the US market.The European Union is expected to formally sign a trade pact with the Mercosur bloc, comprising Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivia, while also pursuing a trade agreement with India. China, hit by US tariffs since Trump’s first term, has quietly diversified exports toward Europe and Southeast Asia.That strategy appears to be paying off. Despite a sharp fall in exports to the US, China reported a record $1.2 trillion trade surplus with the rest of the world in 2025, according to official data released this week.Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has overturned decades of US trade policy by imposing double-digit tariffs on imports from almost all countries. He argues the measures will raise revenue, protect domestic industries and force manufacturing back to the US.Yet the application of tariffs has often appeared arbitrary. Trump has threatened countries over political disputes — including Brazil over the prosecution of former president Jair Bolsonaro — and on Friday warned of tariffs against nations opposing his push to wrest control of Greenland from Denmark.
Why Canada pivoted to Beijing
Canada’s agreement with China represents a reversal of its 2024 decision to impose 100% tariffs on Chinese EVs, mirroring US concerns that low-cost Chinese vehicles could swamp North American automakers.The economic logic, however, is compelling. China cut tariffs on Canadian canola from 84% to 15%, a major relief for farmers who rely heavily on export markets.At the same time, Trump’s retreat from green-energy priorities has altered calculations in Ottawa. “The Trump administration, favoring fossil fuels over green energy, is actively hostile to EV production in North America,” said economist Mary Lovely of the Peterson Institute for International Economics.“China’s strengths in electric vehicle sector are undeniable,” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Friday. “China produces some of the most affordable and efficient energy efficient vehicles in the world… to build our own competitive EV sector, we need to learn from innovative partners.”Still, the shift is politically risky. Relations between Ottawa and Beijing have been strained since 2018, when China detained two Canadians after Canada arrested a Huawei executive at Washington’s request. Domestic opposition has also surfaced, with Ontario Premier Doug Ford warning the deal could hurt Canadian autoworkers.“Make no mistake: China now has a foothold in the Canadian market and will use it to their full advantage at the expense of Canadian workers,” Ford said in a social media post.Carney countered that the deal is limited, allowing China to export 49,000 EVs at a reduced tariff initially, rising to about 70,000 in five years.
USMCA risks loom large
The biggest uncertainty lies south of the border. The US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) comes up for renewal this year, and Trump is expected to demand changes to shift manufacturing to the US — or potentially threaten withdrawal altogether.Canada sends 75% of its goods exports to the United States, making any rupture economically perilous.“This will make the talks more complicated,” said William Reinsch of the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “Trump will not be pleased… and will certainly make it an issue in the USMCA talks.’’Trump struck a conciliatory note on Friday, saying: “If you can get a deal with China, you should do that.” Carney, for his part, noted the agreement with Beijing is preliminary, leaving room for adjustments if tensions escalate.For now, analysts say the message is unmistakable. “It sends a big signal that Canada is looking to other partners and has options,” Lovely said, “and would rather walk away from USMCA than make humiliating compromises that serve only American interests.”
