Trudeau Warns US Tariffs May Push Canada to China

OTTAWA Former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau warned that escalating American tariffs could push Canada toward deeper economic ties with China, particularly in the automotive industry. Speaking at a CNBC event in Singapore on April 23, 2026, Trudeau drew parallels to a past trade dispute, arguing that U.S. protectionism risks isolating Canada from traditional partners.

Trudeau recounted a 2017 episode involving Bombardier, the Canadian aerospace company facing intense competition from U.S.-based Boeing and European rival Airbus. At the time, he said, China had expressed interest in acquiring Bombardier's CSeries jets as an alternative supplier amid the pressures. During the G7 summit in Italy that year, Trudeau raised the issue with fellow leaders, stating that the actions of Boeing and Airbus were effectively driving Canada into China's economic orbit.

The intervention appeared to yield results. Shortly after the summit, Airbus agreed to purchase the CSeries program, integrating it into its own lineup and averting a potential shift toward Chinese buyers. Trudeau highlighted this as evidence of how diplomatic pressure can redirect trade flows away from adversarial partnerships.