China-Canada ‘Strategic Partnership’ Looms Behind Trump Tariff Clash With Ottawa

Behind the trade war between the U.S. and Canada is a higher-stakes strategic competition between the U.S. and China. President Trump pointed to the issue in an August 25 White House press release headlined "President Trump Is Finally Ending Canada’s Free Ride." The only country mentioned in the release other than the U.S. and Canada was China: "The record of Canadian abuse is clear and deliberate: FACT: Canada is joined only by the People’s Republic of China in choosing retaliation over negotiation."