Oct 2018 – Canada arrests Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou, prompting China to detain Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor in retaliation, a dispute that shadows later trade talks. [25]

2021 – China releases Kovrig and Spavor, easing diplomatic tension but leaving a legacy of mistrust that influences the 2026 Canada‑China negotiations. [25]

Oct 2024 – Canada imposes a 100 % tariff on Chinese electric vehicles and a 25 % tariff on Chinese steel and aluminium, mirroring U.S. measures and sparking Chinese retaliation. [25]

Mar 2025 – China levies steep tariffs on Canadian canola, pork, seafood and canola seed, deepening the trade dispute and pressuring Ottawa to seek alternative markets. [25]

2025 – A Pew poll shows 64 % of Canadians hold a negative view of the United States, the highest in two decades, reflecting growing anti‑U.S. sentiment. [17]

Oct 2025 – An Angus Reid poll finds 46 % of Canadians want their government to treat the United States as an adversary, underscoring domestic pressure on Prime Minister Mark Carney. [17]

Jan 7, 2026 – Prime Minister Mark Carney announces a Beijing visit (Jan 13‑17), the first by a Canadian premier in eight years, framing it as a cornerstone of a plan to double non‑U.S. exports within a decade amid looming USMCA review and U.S. tariff threats. [25][28]

Jan 13, 2026 – Carney lands in Beijing; Chinese state media urge Ottawa to adopt “strategic autonomy” and portray the trip as an opportunity to tilt Canada away from Washington. [26]

Jan 14, 2026 – Carney meets Premier Li Qiang and other officials, discusses canola‑tariff relief and broader trade reset, and officials label the mission “consequential” for boosting non‑U.S. exports. [24][26]

Jan 15, 2026 – Carney opens his Beijing visit declaring a “new era” of Canada‑China engagement, meets Xi Jinping and leaders of Alibaba, CNPC and CATL, and signals intent to deepen economic, energy and security cooperation. [23]

Jan 16, 2026 – Canada eliminates the 100 % tariff on Chinese EVs, replacing it with a 6.1 % MFN rate and an annual cap of 49,000 vehicles; China concurrently cuts its canola‑seed tariff from 84 % to ~15 %, a move Carney frames as diversification away from U.S. dependence. [21][20][22]

Jan 17, 2026 – Carney meets Xi in Beijing, announces the EV and canola tariff concessions, and notes that President Trump’s policies shape the diplomatic atmosphere. [18]

Jan 18, 2026 – Polling shows 64 % of Canadians view the United States negatively and 46 % want the U.S. treated as an adversary, reflecting backlash to Trump’s rhetoric and tariff threats. [17]

Jan 20, 2026 – At Davos, Carney declares the post‑war order “not coming back,” urges middle‑power coalitions to resist economic coercion, reaffirms NATO and Greenland commitments, and warns Canada can no longer rely on geography for security. [16][15]

Jan 22, 2026 – Returning from Davos, Carney calls for national unity, pledges rapid execution of an economic plan to break domestic trade barriers and secure twelve new trade deals across four continents within six months. [5]

Jan 23, 2026 – President Trump withdraws Carney’s invitation to his “Board of Peace,” labels Carney “Governor Carney,” and promotes the Golden Dome missile‑defence scheme, heightening bilateral tension. [14]

Jan 24, 2026 – Trump posts on Truth Social that the U.S. will impose a 100 % tariff on Canadian goods if Ottawa finalizes the China pact; the Canada‑China agreement lowers EV tariffs and canola duties; Trump also suggests Canada could become the U.S. “51st state” and rescinds the Board invitation. [12][13][4][29]

Jan 25, 2026 – Trump releases a video warning that China will “devour” Canada, repeats the 100 % tariff threat, calls Carney “Governor,” and the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to rule on his use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. [13][11]

Jan 26, 2026 – China’s foreign‑ministry spokesperson asserts the Canada‑China strategic partnership does not target any third party; U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent clarifies the tariff condition applies only if Canada lets Chinese goods flood the U.S. market; Carney reiterates Canada is not pursuing a free‑trade deal with China. [2][10]

Jan 27, 2026 – Carney refutes Treasury claims he “walked back” his Davos remarks, confirms a “very good” phone call with Trump, and says the upcoming USMCA review and China talks remain on the agenda. [1][8][9]

Jan 30, 2026 – Trump’s hard‑line stance creates diplomatic space for China; UK Prime Minister Starmer, German Chancellor Merz and Finnish PM Orpo schedule Beijing trips, while Trump warns allies against China engagement and is expected to visit Beijing in April. [7]

Feb 3, 2026 – Western leaders (Starmer, Carney, Orpo) meet Xi in Beijing; China offers concrete trade concessions to Canada, the EU balances security concerns with pragmatic engagement, and analysts note the shift stems from perceived U.S. “rogue” behavior. [6]

Feb 5, 2026 – Trump publicly urges Canada to become the U.S. “51st state,” sparking outrage among 40 million Canadians; Carney’s Davos speech earlier warned of a rupture in the post‑war order and called for a coalition of medium powers to counter great‑power dominance. [30]

Later 2026 (expected) – The mandatory USMCA review proceeds, likely shaping Canada‑U.S. trade terms; Trump is slated to travel to Beijing in April; German Chancellor Merz plans a May visit to China, and Canada aims to double non‑U.S. exports by 2035‑36 as part of its diversification strategy. [1][5][7][4]