Beijing asserts resolve on Iran commerce while facing claims of cyber intrusions; Canada targets US states with counter-tariffs ahead of midterms.
Published
China has reaffirmed its commitment to trade with Iran amid US threats targeting Tehran's trading partners, just one month before a scheduled meeting between President Xi Jinping and former President Donald Trump. The statement from Beijing comes as the US separately announced that Chinese hackers breached sensitive federal systems at the Justice Department, NASA, the Federal Reserve, and the Senate.
Meanwhile, Canada is implementing dollar-for-dollar retaliatory tariffs against US imports, specifically targeting products from individual US states in response to President Trump's 50 per cent tariffs. The strategy appears designed to exert political pressure on states considered key battlegrounds ahead of the midterm elections.
In a related development, the Canadian province of New Brunswick announced it will review its fracking ban, with Premier Susan Holt indicating the province is exploring "all options" to support economic growth amid trade war pressures.
The dual-track escalation marks a significant deterioration in US relations with both China and Canada, with Beijing seeking to avoid further escalation while maintaining its positions, and Ottawa directly targeting US political interests through precise trade countermeasures.
Sources: 1. Le Monde: Facing US sanctions, China stands firm on Iran — https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2026/08/27/facing-us-sanctions-china-stands-firm-on-iran_6756888_4.html (src1) 2.