Chinese President Xi Jinping has praised what he described as a significant improvement in relations with Canada following talks with Prime Minister Mark Carney in Beijing, signalling a potential reset after years of diplomatic tension.
The meeting marked the first direct engagement between leaders of the two countries in eight years and comes as Ottawa reassesses its foreign policy amid growing friction with Washington. During Canada’s 2025 election campaign, Carney had labelled China the country’s top global security concern, but shifting geopolitical pressures appear to have softened that stance.
Following the talks, Carney said Canada and China could build a renewed relationship suited to “new global realities,” identifying agriculture, energy and finance as core pillars of a prospective strategic partnership.
Xi echoed that view, saying the two sides had held “in-depth discussions” on restoring cooperation and had reached constructive outcomes. As part of Carney’s visit, Canada and China signed a preliminary agreement to sharply reduce tariffs on electric vehicles and canola exports, with further trade easing measures under discussion.
Under the deal Canada will permit the import of up to 49,000 Chinese-made electric vehicles at a tariff rate of 6.1%, down from the 100% duty imposed in 2023 by former PM Justin Trudeau.
Canada–China ties deteriorated sharply in 2018 after Ottawa detained a senior Huawei executive at the request of the United States, prompting Beijing to arrest two Canadians on espionage charges. The dispute escalated into tit-for-tat tariffs and accusations of political interference, which China has consistently denied.
Carney has previously said Canada must reduce its reliance on the US market, calling for a doubling of non-US exports by 2035 as part of a broader diversification strategy.
The United States imports more oil from Canada than from any other country — roughly 4.3 million barrels per day as of mid‑2024, a record high
Canada supplies about 62% of all U.S. crude oil imports
U.S. refineries are optimized for heavy crude, which the U.S. produces very little of
Canada is the largest and most reliable supplier of heavy crude to the U.S
Over 60% of U.S. crude imports are heavy crude (≤27 API gravity) — mostly from Canada and Mexico
So there may be complications in a rebirth of Canada China relations
Canada’s PM Carney Praises “New World Order”; Opens Door To Chinese EVs
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/beijing-first-canadian-pm-carney-opens-canada-chinese-evs
Is that because canada has become a totalitarian system too?
The US is building a resource-driven world order based on energy dominance, territorial leverage, and Europe’s strategic weakness
https://www.rt.com/news/630889-trump-is-not-bluffing/
Furthermore, should the operation regarding Greenland go through, nothing would stand between Trump and Canada.
What is significant here is the relationship between Canada and China could lead to a loose security alignment. Especially when Trump is calling for Canada to be the 51st state and Canada is flatly ruling that out.
I see a small Chinese fleet visit to Canada is on the horizon.
There is zero doubt China is the manufacturers of everything. Has the rare earth metals in their own back yard. Thier navy, airforce and army is modern. Crime is low in China. A long time back I recall china’s president saying he wants to lift all of china out of poverty. Chima is working towards that.
When you look at the deal the US has given its own people, it has led to poverty, rampant drug abuse, deadly crime.The healthcare is limited to people with wealth. Corruption is at a new level. Claims of western. politicians being blackmailed.
Then there is the covid pandemic and vaccine medicines. Evidence of harm and death caused by these hundreds of variances in our own community. ACC Paying out compensation while our government prosecutors Mr Barry Young for providing disturbing raw data to the world. Nothing short of bizarre.
Excess taxation including empty bedroom tax and capital gains tax is now the two major parties campaigne. Nomally that is held secret. Wondering how further our politicians want our living standard to fall.
NZ trade with China has no tariff. US NZ trade deal i think is 15%. Who should NZ align with?