The Globe and Mail reports in its Thursday edition that Liberal leader Mark Carney Wednesday rejected accusations from his Conservative rival that he is beholden to Beijing. The Globe's Steven Chase and Robert Fife write that the Canadian government is trying to shift trade away from the United States in the face of growing protectionist tariff threats from U.S. President Donald Trump and his challenges to Canadian sovereignty, where he argues that Canada should be annexed. Asked if Canada should boost trade with China as it tries to reduce trade with the U.S., Mr. Carney pointed to Europe instead. "We want to diversify with like-minded partners. That's why I went to Europe in my first days as Prime Minister," the Liberal leader said during a campaign stop in Windsor, Ont. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has accused Mr. Carney of being beholden to China, noting that while he was chair of Brookfield Asset Management, the company obtained a $276-million (U.S.) loan from the Bank of China last year. Mr. Carney dismissed Mr. Poilievre's accusations, saying: "Mr. Poilievre doesn't understand the world. Mr. Poilievre is a lifelong politician. It's all he's ever done -- his slogans, sound bites, slander."