Overview
- The prime minister travels to Beijing from Tuesday to Saturday for meetings with Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, his first official visit to China as leader.
- Carney’s office says the agenda focuses on elevating engagement on trade, energy, agriculture and international security.
- Relations have been strained since 2018 following the Huawei-related arrest in Vancouver and China’s detention of two Canadians on espionage charges.
- Recent trade frictions include Canada’s 25% tariff on certain China-linked steel and China’s temporary 75.8% duty on Canadian canola.
- Carney labeled his October meeting with Xi a turning point, and his government notes China is Canada’s second-largest trading partner with C$118.7 billion in two-way goods trade in 2024.