SHANGHAI: China should take “punitive” measures against Canada if new regulations from Ottawa against dumping of aluminium and steel target Beijing, Chinese tabloid Global Times said in an editorial on Friday.

The widely read Global Times is run by the ruling Communist Party’s official People’s Daily, although its stance does not necessarily reflect Chinese government policy.

The editorial excoriated Ottawa for what it characterised as vacillation between the US and China, referring to recent comments made by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about steel and aluminium dumping.

Canada has “sound trade ties and ... no major disputes,” with China, it said.

Canada’s imports of Chinese steel make up a small proportion of its total imports, and it imports nearly no aluminium from China, the editorial said, adding that “Canada is more like a US colony economically". However, a “self-seeking and greedy Canada” would be unlikely to cut itself off from the Chinese market completely, it said.

On Tuesday, Trudeau said that Canada will act to prevent the smuggling of cheap steel and aluminium into the North American market.

“By following the US suit, Canada is acting like a crafty merchant. Chinese people used to hold full respect for Western countries.

But as their exchanges grow, these countries begin unveiling their selfish and cunning nature,” the editorial said.

“We have professional teams to cope with small countries of this kind,” the editorial said.

Published in Dawn, March 31st, 2018