OTTAWA – Former prime minister Justin Trudeau says American tariffs threaten to drive Canada closer to China in the auto sector.
Speaking at a CNBC event in Singapore today, Trudeau says China was looking to purchase Bombardier jets in 2017 as the company came under pressure from American aircraft maker Boeing and Dutch manufacturer Airbus.
Trudeau says he told his G7 counterparts during the 2017 summit in Italy that Boeing and Airbus were driving Canada into China’s arms.
After that meeting, Trudeau says, Airbus began purchasing Bombardier’s C-Series jets instead of China.
Trudeau says a similar scenario is playing out now, with U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs pushing Canada to explore closer auto sector ties with China.
Prime Minister Mark Carney dramatically reduced tariffs on up to 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles, in exchange for relief on Chinese tariffs for certain products, such as canola meal, peas and shellfish.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 23, 2026.
