Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney has hailed a new strategic partnership with China as he wrapped up his state visit to Beijing, marking the first time in eight years that a Canadian leader has visited the country. During his talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Carney emphasized the need for cooperation and adaptation to "new global realities."
The visit comes at a critical juncture for Canada's trade relations, as it seeks to reduce its reliance on the US and mitigate the impact of steep tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump on Canadian goods. The Canadian leader has made a bid to reset ties with China, which had been strained since 2018 due to diplomatic spats and tit-for-tat trade disputes.
The agreement reached between the two countries aims to reduce tariffs and boost bilateral trade, including a commitment to import 49,000 electric vehicles from China at preferential tariff rates. The move is part of Carney's efforts to double non-US exports by 2035, as he acknowledges the strain of Canada's trade war with its largest trading partner.
The partnership also covers cooperation in clean energy and fossil fuels, which could lead to increased Canadian fossil fuel exports to the Chinese market. Additional agreements were signed covering forestry, culture, and tourism.
Xi welcomed Carney, describing China-Canada relations as having reached a turning point at their previous meeting last year. The two leaders acknowledged that "the healthy and stable development of China-Canada relations serves the common interests of our two countries."
The visit marks a significant shift in Canada's foreign policy, as it seeks to diversify its trade relationships and reduce its dependence on the US. However, the US remains far and away its largest market, accounting for about 75% of Canadian goods sold in 2024.
While officials from Canada and China have been negotiating lower tariffs and boosting bilateral trade, an agreement has yet to be reached. Nevertheless, Carney's visit suggests a willingness from Beijing to cooperate with Ottawa and improve relations between the two countries.
The visit comes at a critical juncture for Canada's trade relations, as it seeks to reduce its reliance on the US and mitigate the impact of steep tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump on Canadian goods. The Canadian leader has made a bid to reset ties with China, which had been strained since 2018 due to diplomatic spats and tit-for-tat trade disputes.
The agreement reached between the two countries aims to reduce tariffs and boost bilateral trade, including a commitment to import 49,000 electric vehicles from China at preferential tariff rates. The move is part of Carney's efforts to double non-US exports by 2035, as he acknowledges the strain of Canada's trade war with its largest trading partner.
The partnership also covers cooperation in clean energy and fossil fuels, which could lead to increased Canadian fossil fuel exports to the Chinese market. Additional agreements were signed covering forestry, culture, and tourism.
Xi welcomed Carney, describing China-Canada relations as having reached a turning point at their previous meeting last year. The two leaders acknowledged that "the healthy and stable development of China-Canada relations serves the common interests of our two countries."
The visit marks a significant shift in Canada's foreign policy, as it seeks to diversify its trade relationships and reduce its dependence on the US. However, the US remains far and away its largest market, accounting for about 75% of Canadian goods sold in 2024.
While officials from Canada and China have been negotiating lower tariffs and boosting bilateral trade, an agreement has yet to be reached. Nevertheless, Carney's visit suggests a willingness from Beijing to cooperate with Ottawa and improve relations between the two countries.
it's about time, man! mark carney needs to give props to xi for being chill about all this 
but seriously, 49k electric vehicles from china? that's a big win for china 
and canada's trade game 
still got some work to do tho, gotta get those tariffs under control 
. I'm not surprised he's making this move, considering how much pressure Canada is under from those US tariffs 
. The fact that he's trying to double non-US exports by 2035 is a big deal, but it's gonna be tough since the US still accounts for like 75% of Canadian trade 
.
Is Canada just trying to play catch-up or something? Either way, I hope they're able to get those tariffs down and boost bilateral trade 
. We'll see how it all plays out, I guess! 
Canada's move towards China is about time 
, especially with the US tariffs being so tough 
. The focus on clean energy and fossil fuels is a great start 
️, let's keep pushing for sustainable growth 
. This partnership could really boost Canada's economy in the long run 
. The 49,000 electric vehicles import deal is a big win 
, and it's awesome that we're getting preferential tariff rates 
. Now, let's see if the US can keep up with us 
! #CanadaChinaPartnership #TradeDealsMatter #SustainabilityIsKey
i mean what took them so long to sort it out? 
and now they're just hopin that their new partnership will help 'em reduce tariffs and boost trade 
. hopefully this partnership brings some positive change for canadians, especially when it comes to trade & tariffs 
