US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose sweeping tariffs on Canadian imports if Ottawa goes ahead with a trade agreement with China, escalating tensions over trade and supply chain concerns.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump strongly criticised Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, warning that Canada would face serious consequences if it allowed itself to be used as a transit point for Chinese products entering the United States.

Trump said that if Canada believed it could become a “drop off port” for Chinese goods bound for the US, it was “sorely mistaken”. He added that any such agreement with China would immediately trigger a 100 per cent tariff on all Canadian goods and products imported into the United States.

The remarks underline Washington’s growing concerns about China’s trade practices and its efforts to prevent indirect entry of Chinese products through third countries.

Canada, meanwhile, has been working to reduce its dependence on the US market. The country recently announced a “landmark deal” with China as part of a new strategic partnership aimed at expanding trade ties beyond North America.

The proposed partnership has now drawn sharp scrutiny from the US, with Trump signalling that any move seen as undermining American trade interests would be met with aggressive tariff action.

US President Donald Trump has launched a sharp attack on Canada after it rejected his proposed “Golden Dome” missile defence project over Greenland, warning that Beijing could quickly dominate the country as it deepens economic engagement with China.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Canada opposed the Golden Dome despite it being designed to protect North America, including Canadian territory. He accused Ottawa of choosing closer business ties with China over US-backed security arrangements, claiming China would “eat them up” within a year.

Trump’s remarks come amid rising diplomatic tensions between Washington and Ottawa, following comments made by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the World Economic Forum in Davos earlier this week.

Trump targets Carney over security and trade choices

Speaking at the WEF, Trump criticised Carney for what he described as a lack of gratitude towards the United States, asserting that Canada benefits significantly from US security protections. He said his proposed missile defence system would extend protection to Canada as well.

Trump also emphasised the strategic role played by the US in safeguarding its northern neighbour, warning that Canada’s security depended heavily on American military support.

The US President’s comments were aimed directly at Carney’s Davos speech, where the Canadian leader spoke of a shifting global order marked by intensified great power rivalry and expressed opposition to the use of tariffs as a coercive tool.

Canada defends China trade agreement

The dispute has been further fuelled by Canada’s recent announcement of a new trade agreement with China. Carney said the deal would unlock more than $7 billion in export opportunities for Canadian businesses and workers, highlighting China’s importance as the world’s second-largest economy.

According to official statements, the agreement is part of Canada’s effort to diversify trade partnerships and strengthen economic resilience in an increasingly uncertain global environment.

As part of the arrangement, Canada has agreed to reduce its tariff on Chinese electric vehicles in exchange for lower duties on Canadian agricultural exports. The agreement includes an annual cap on Chinese EV imports, which will gradually increase over five years. China, in turn, will significantly cut tariffs on Canadian canola seed exports.

Carney has stated that China has become a more predictable partner than the United States, citing recent progress in bilateral relations.

Tariffs add to US–Canada friction

Canada continues to face steep US tariffs, including levies on metals and non-US automobiles. Meanwhile, tensions between the US and China over tariff threats have eased temporarily following talks between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, leading to partial tariff exemptions until November 2026.

The Golden Dome dispute now adds another layer to strained US–Canada relations, highlighting growing disagreements over defence priorities, trade diversification, and geopolitical alignment.

Former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday launched a scathing attack on Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, accusing him of heading an “illegal and violent” administration that has pushed Bangladesh into what she described as a period of terror, lawlessness and democratic collapse.

Hasina delivered the address through an audio message to a packed audience at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club in Delhi, marking her first public address in India since leaving Bangladesh in 2024. The event, titled Save Democracy in Bangladesh, was attended by several former ministers from her Awami League government and members of the Bangladeshi diaspora.

Although she did not appear in person, Hasina’s speech was uncompromising in tone, repeatedly branding Yunus a “murderous fascist” and accusing him of betraying the nation for personal power.

‘Democracy is now in exile,’ says Hasina

Opening her address, Hasina said Bangladesh was standing “at the edge of an abyss” and claimed that democracy had effectively been forced into exile since her removal from office on August 5, 2024. She alleged that her ouster was the result of a “meticulously engineered conspiracy” aimed at dismantling the country’s constitutional order.

According to Hasina, the situation in Bangladesh has deteriorated sharply since then, with the collapse of law and order, unchecked mob violence and widespread fear among citizens.

“Life and property have no security,” she said, alleging that violence, looting and extortion have spread from urban centres to rural areas.

She further accused the current dispensation of suppressing press freedom, targeting political opponents and allowing violence against women and minorities to continue without restraint.

Sharp personal attack on Muhammad Yunus

The former prime minister reserved her strongest criticism for Yunus, accusing him of bleeding the country dry and compromising national sovereignty by allegedly serving foreign interests.

Hasina warned that Bangladesh was being pushed towards instability and conflict, claiming that the current leadership was engaged in a “treacherous plot” that threatened the nation’s territorial and constitutional integrity.

Invoking the legacy of the Liberation War and her father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, she framed the political crisis as an existential struggle for Bangladesh’s identity and independence.

Call for unity and five-point political demand

Positioning the Awami League as the principal defender of Bangladesh’s democratic and pluralist traditions, Hasina urged supporters of the pro-Liberation camp to unite and resist what she termed a puppet regime.

She laid out five key demands, beginning with the removal of the Yunus-led administration to restore democracy and pave the way for free and fair elections. She claimed credible elections would be impossible under the current setup.

Her other demands included the restoration of law and order, guarantees for the safety of minorities and women, an end to politically motivated legal actions against journalists and opposition figures, and the revival of judicial independence.

Hasina also called for a fresh and impartial United Nations investigation into developments over the past year, saying only an objective inquiry could help the country reconcile and move forward.

Political messaging from Indian soil

The address carried symbolic significance, being Hasina’s first public speech in India since she arrived there following her ouster. Her remarks signalled her intent to continue influencing Bangladesh’s political narrative from abroad.

She concluded the address with a call for mass mobilisation, urging citizens not to lose hope and to join what she described as a fight to reclaim democracy and national dignity.

Context of recent interview

Earlier, in a detailed interview given from a secure location in Delhi, Hasina had accused the interim administration in Dhaka of steering Bangladesh towards authoritarianism and extremist influence. She also spoke about the events surrounding her removal from power and alleged targeted attacks on minorities following her exit.