America and Canada have been close partners in most regards for decades, from economic ties to diplomatic outlooks. Lately, there has been a change of hearts and outlooks when it comes to international relations concerning the United States of America. This has, in turn, put Canada into a difficult position as it has to navigate where it should fall when its most reliable ally has turned relatively aggressive.  

In the past, Canada has followed the U.S. in relations to China and how they should be conducted, putting tariffs on Chinese automobiles at the same time as the United States. Canada also put on different tariffs on Chinese steel and other manufactured materials. This has followed a very U.S. centric outlook on their relations with their second biggest trade partner, however, despite being the recipient of these tariffs, China may be looking to soften the tension.  

As another victim of America’s aggressive economic stance, China has received numerous economic tariffs and is now looking to find ways around the global giant. This has led them to look again at how to handle a Canadian trade partner, involving talks recently with the Chinese ambassador calling for a more equal and friendly trade deal with such a large trading partner.  

Beijing has condemned the United States for forcing Canada to have to follow the U.S. blindly against China.  China has even gone so far as to mention a complete free trade deal as long as Canada removes the hurtful tariffs off of Chinese goods.  

However,Canada is still reeling from the recent executions of four confirmed Canadian citizens living abroad. This event happened a week ago where news came out of multiple executions of dual Canadian–Chinese citizens living in China due to drug trafficking. The Canadian prime ministers had hoped and continued to try for leniency with their punishment, hoping they may be returned to Canada or jail time. However, in China they have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to drugs within their country, leading them to claim they had no choice for the fates of the men.  

China continues to have the most state executions of any developed country in the world, executing an estimated 1000 people in 2022 and multiple thousands in the years to come after.  

This is one of the many issues straining relations between China and Canada. In addition to it there has also been the detainment of multiple Chinese CEOs in Canada, causing China to do the same in their country with Canadian citizens, and the sanctioning of multiple Chinese officials for their abuse and human rights violation of the Uyghurs, something that China has called Canada hypocrites over after the country’s history with indigenous people groups.

Regardless of how hot tensions may be between these two powers, China is still looking for any allies that may prove to be pivotal against the U.S. Joining with Canada move would put the waning global power in the hot seat itself. As more tariffs come towards the Canadians now, Canada might be in the same boat, and it may be only a matter of time till economic need forces these two nations to become friendly.