Carney is Canada’s first prime minister to visit China in almost ten years
Mark Carney, the prime minister of Canada, is going to Beijing to try to fix the tense relationship between the two countries and expand trade beyond the US.
Mark Carney, the prime minister of Canada, left for China on Tuesday for the first trip by a Canadian prime minister to Beijing since 2017. The trip is meant to talk about trade and international security as Canada looks for new partnerships as its relationship with the US becomes less stable.
The visit, which is set for January 14–17, could be the start of a major improvement in relations that have been strained for years, including since Canada arrested Huawei’s chief financial officer in 2018 and caused international problems.
Senior Canadian sources said Carney is likely to sign a number of memoranda that are still being worked on. These could lead to deals or future promises. Greg MacEachern, a former top adviser, said he expects real results. “When China invites the Prime Minister, it’s not just for show,” he said, adding that the move would be closely watched in Washington. “This might make President Trump angry, but it’s clear that Prime Minister Carney wants to make it clear that Canada is open for business.”
Officials said that Canada might send more crude oil to China. Usually, Canada sends about 90% of its oil to the U.S., but less demand from expected Venezuelan imports could change the situation. The government warned that even though progress is expected, China probably won’t lift taxes on Canadian canola exports during this visit.
China’s foreign ministry said that the visit would help build trust between the two countries. Chinese media say that both sides “want to signal their good intentions.” Lynette Ong, a professor at the University of Toronto, said, “Both Canada and China want to show they mean well, so they each need to give away something.”
Canada is trying to become less dependent on the U.S. market and expand its trade relationships around the world. Carney’s participation is seen as part of this strategy shift.
