Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to embark on a visit to China next week, marking the first trip by a Canadian prime minister to the country since 2017. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) announced that Carney’s visit from January 13 to 17 will include meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss various topics such as trade, energy, agriculture, and international security.
Carney expressed that the global disruption of trade has prompted his government to shift Canada’s economy from dependence on a single trade partner to a more robust and resilient structure. He emphasized the creation of new partnerships in energy and trade, attracting significant investments, and securing additional opportunities for Canadians.
The upcoming visit follows Carney’s meeting with Xi on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea last October, where he accepted an invitation from the Chinese President for a formal visit. During his time in China, Carney will also hold discussions with Premier Li Qiang and other officials.
After concluding his visit to China, Carney will travel to Doha on January 18 to meet with Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Subsequently, he will head to Davos, Switzerland, for the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting from January 19 to 21, where he will engage with business leaders.
The meeting between Carney and Xi is expected to address several trade tensions between Canada and China. Canada imposed 100% tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles in 2024, aligning with the United States to protect its domestic automobile industry. Ottawa accused Beijing of subsidizing its electric vehicle sector, leading to an influx of inexpensive Chinese EVs in international markets.
In response, China imposed tariffs on Canadian canola seed imports and products like canola oil, meal, peas, as well as certain Canadian pork, fish, and seafood items. This ongoing recalibration of relations between the two countries is crucial in resolving existing challenges.
Former diplomat Michael Kovrig highlighted the importance of high-level diplomatic channels like the meeting between Carney and Xi in addressing disputes. He cautioned against compromising national security or policy autonomy for economic gains in expanding trade relations with China.
The Opposition Conservatives criticized Carney’s frequent international travels, questioning the outcomes for Canadians. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s office criticized the prime minister’s trips as wasteful, urging him to focus on reversing policies hindering Canada’s progress instead of engaging with global elites at events like the World Economic Forum.