PM Carney begins visit to China to boost trade ties

Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in Beijing today, beginning a four-day visit designed to repair troubled relations between the two nations.

This is the first visit to China by a Canadian prime minister in eight years. And it comes as Canada looks to develop ties with countries other than the United States.

It’s no secret that because of trade uncertainty with Donald Trump and the United States, Canada needs new friends.

“Over the course of the next few days we will discuss the trade relationship between our two countries. And we will also examine other opportunities for collaboration,” said Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand.

That collaboration is necessary after trade soured south of the border.

“We have said on numerous occasions that we will double non-U.S. trade over the next ten years. Canada must diversify its trading partners,” said Anand.

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“For a number of years now we’ve been in a kind of freeze in terms of the relationship. The relationship has been at quite a low level. And so with a new prime minister coming in and a new approach to foreign policy, this is an opportunity for Canada and for China to start anew,” said Jane Boulden, a political science professor at the Royal Military College of Canada.

That said, just in 2022 the Liberal government declared that China is a disruptive global power, but now the Carney Liberals may have changed their opinion.

“I don’t think that in practice it means that the Canadian government actually sees China as — suddenly has the potential to be a warm, personal close ally. I think there is still a lot of legitimate concern about Chinese activities globally and in Canada,” said Boulden.

Tariffs will be a major talking point of these meetings. Canada will be looking to have China lower the tariffs on pork, canola and seafood – while Canada has tariffs on Chinese EVs, steel and aluminum

“There seems to be some signals that something in that package will change. I don’t think anybody is expecting any of those tariffs will go down to zero,” said Boulden.

Premier Doug Ford has already voiced concerns about the potential for the tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles being reduced. He said it would be extremely damaging for the Canadian auto sector.

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