Trump warned that Canada would face a 100% tariff on all exports to the United States if it enters into any trade arrangement with China. …reports Asian Lite News
Former US president Donald Trump on Saturday reignited global tensions by threatening sweeping trade penalties against Canada while simultaneously claiming the United States has taken control of oil seized from Venezuelan tankers, signalling a renewed push for aggressive economic and geopolitical leverage.
Trump warned that Canada would face a 100% tariff on all exports to the United States if it enters into any trade arrangement with China. Writing on social media, he accused Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney of potentially allowing Canada to act as a transit hub for Chinese goods entering the US market. Trump said such a move would undermine American trade interests and claimed China’s economic influence would devastate Canada’s industries, social cohesion and way of life.
The former president has frequently used tariffs as a tool to pressure allies and rivals alike, sometimes following through and at other times retreating after negotiations. His latest warning comes just days after he softened earlier threats of broad tariffs against several European nations, which he had linked to talks over Greenland. Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in the strategically important Arctic territory and recently claimed progress toward a future agreement that would give the US greater control over areas hosting American military bases.
In remarks over the weekend, Trump suggested the US would eventually gain sovereignty over land in Greenland where its bases are located, describing the discussions as productive and ongoing. He said the outcome would secure Washington’s long-term strategic and security interests in the Arctic region.
Alongside trade and territorial ambitions, Trump also made striking claims about Venezuela. He said the US has taken oil from tankers seized during recent military operations aimed at disrupting Venezuelan oil shipments. According to Trump, the oil is now being refined at facilities in the United States, including in Texas, with some of it sold on the open market.
US forces have intercepted several vessels linked to Venezuela as part of a campaign targeting ships accused of evading sanctions by concealing their origins. Trump stated that tens of millions of barrels of oil have already been removed from Venezuelan control, arguing that the action weakens Caracas while strengthening US energy security.
Trump’s focus on Venezuela has intensified in recent weeks. After long-standing efforts to push President Nicolás Maduro from power through diplomatic and economic pressure failed, Trump authorised a dramatic military operation earlier this month that resulted in Maduro and his wife being taken into US custody to face drug-related charges. Trump later claimed a newly developed weapon played a key role in subduing security forces during the raid.
Trump has said the US intends to oversee Venezuela’s oil resources for the foreseeable future, as part of an ambitious plan to rebuild the country’s oil sector. The proposal has sparked sharp criticism from environmental groups and raised concerns within the global energy industry about legality, precedent and long-term consequences.
Together, Trump’s tariff threats and oil claims underscore an assertive approach that continues to challenge allies, disrupt markets and redraw the boundaries of US power abroad.
