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Ontario Premier Doug Ford doubled down on opposition to Canada’s trade truce with China, warning that opening the door to Chinese EVs risks gutting the Canadian sector.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Jan. 20 in an interview on Fox Business that Vice Premier He Lifeng confirmed to him that China has completed their soybean purchases.

Breaking with the United States, Canada has agreed to cut its 100% tariff on Chinese electric cars in return for lower tariffs on Canadian farm products, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Jan. 16.

Under the terms, which the White House was poised to announce Jan. 15, duties on Taiwanese shipments would fall from the previous 20% rate — putting them on par with Japan and South Korea.

Under an order Trump signed on Jan. 14, the government would collect the duty on the chips as they’re brought to the U.S. before final shipment to Chinese customers and other foreign markets.

President Trump has been under pressure to respond after China constrained access to rare earths crucial to advanced technologies during a trade spat last year.

It’s unclear which U.S. officials will participate in the meetings and whether Trump plans to become personally involved. Whether a deal will be finalized also remains uncertain. 

Exports to other countries made up for slowing Chinese shipments to the U.S. under President Donald Trump's onslaught of higher tariffs.

President Trump posted on social media that the new duty would be “effective immediately,” without providing further detail. The administration has yet to outline the scope.

The U.S. accused China of engaging in unfair trade practices in the semiconductor sector, but is declining to impose additional tariffs on chip imports until at least mid-2027.