China’s state-run Global Times is praising Prime Minister Mark Carney for adopting what it calls a “Chinese-styled counterattack” against the United States after Ottawa announced retaliatory tariffs in its escalating trade dispute with President Donald Trump.

In an editorial published Sunday, the Chinese Communist Party-controlled newspaper applauded Carney’s decision to match Washington’s new tariffs “dollar for dollar,” portraying Canada’s retaliation as validation of Beijing’s own approach to dealing with the Trump administration.

“In the face of Washington's tariff stick, Canada has launched a ‘Chinese-styled counterattack,’” the editorial declared, describing the strategy as “responding firmly and proportionally; defending sovereignty without compromise; and resorting to rules and legitimate countermeasures.”

Carney announced Saturday that Canada would retaliate against U.S. tariffs of 50% affecting approximately $20 billion in Canadian products. Beginning September 8, Ottawa says it will impose tariffs targeting American products in sectors including steel, dairy, agricultural equipment, electronics, pulp and paper and home appliances.

Go Ad Free

The Global Times seized on comments from U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, who reportedly noted that only Canada and China had responded to the latest American measures with retaliation.

“Two countries in the world have retaliated against us: [the] People’s Republic of China and Canada,” Greer said, according to the editorial.

Beijing's newspaper portrayed the comparison as a compliment.

It argued Canada's actions demonstrate the “necessity and legitimacy of China’s reciprocal countermeasures” and described Carney's retaliation as a “heavy blow against protectionism.”

The editorial also used Canada's dispute with its largest trading partner to advance Beijing's broader geopolitical message, arguing U.S. allies should pursue greater “strategic autonomy” from Washington and develop more trading partners and markets.

“Today it is Canada; tomorrow it could be the EU, and the day after, Japan or South Korea,” the paper said.

The praise also comes as Washington has grown increasingly wary of Ottawa’s renewed embrace of Beijing.

Trump previously threatened steep tariffs if Canada pursued a broader China trade deal, after Carney struck a tariff arrangement with Beijing and declared the new partnership positioned Canada for the “new world order.”