Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to embark on a visit to China, aiming to reshape Canada’s relationship with the Chinese government and explore potential economic collaborations. Parliamentary secretary MP Kody Blois shared that Carney sees potential for partnership between the two nations and views the upcoming trip as a pivotal moment in their relationship.
Scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visit, Carney will also travel to Qatar on January 18 and later to Switzerland for the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos. The Prairie provinces are especially attentive to Carney’s visit, urging him to address the tariffs that China imposed on Canadian-made electric vehicles in 2024, which led to retaliatory tariffs on canola, seafood, and pork.
Blois, accompanying Carney to China, highlighted opportunities for cooperation in agriculture and agri-food. While he refrained from providing specifics on expected outcomes, he emphasized the significance of the Chinese market for Canada’s economy. Notably, Saskatchewan’s canola farmers have been adversely affected by the tariffs, with Bill Prybylski estimating significant financial losses.
Prybylski expressed cautious optimism for potential tariff relief following Carney’s visit, underscoring the importance of negotiations between both sides. Conversely, Ontario Premier Doug Ford emphasized the importance of maintaining tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, urging Carney to stand firm in negotiations with China.
The visit to China signifies the first by a Canadian prime minister since 2017, amid strained relations following the detention of two Canadians in 2018. Despite past challenges, former national security adviser Jody Thomas emphasized the importance of engaging with China to navigate complex global relationships effectively.
Michael Kovrig, one of the detained Canadians, stressed the need for Ottawa to pursue expanded trade relations cautiously without compromising national security. Blois echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the importance of dialogue with China to explore areas of partnership while acknowledging existing challenges. The trip aims to foster constructive engagement and pave the way for future collaborations.
