A new era for Canada-China relations? Prime Minister Carney signals change in Beijing

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BEIJING (AP) — On the first trip by a Canadian leader to China in eight years, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Thursday that the two countries are entering a new era of relations.

Carney, who became prime minister 10 months ago, is attempting to repair ties with China following several years of acrimony over issues ranging from Canada’s 2018 arrest of a senior Chinese tech executive to 100% Canadian tariffs on China-made electric vehicles.

He met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, who hailed the turnaround in relations. Carney meets top leader Xi Jinping on Friday.

The Canadian government's push to boost ties has been made more pressing by higher import tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump. More than 75% percent of Canada’s exports go to the U.S., and Carney has set a goal of reducing that reliance by doubling Canada’s exports to other countries over the next decade.

He held meetings Thursday with several leading Chinese companies including e-commerce giant Alibaba, the state-owned oil company China National Petroleum Corp. and the leading electric vehicle battery producer CATL.

“We’re ready to build a new partnership — one that builds on the best of our past, and responds to the challenges of today,” Carney posted on X after his arrival in Beijing on Wednesday night.

Canada, following the U.S. lead, announced tariffs of 100% on EVs from China and 25% on steel and aluminum in 2024 under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Carney’s predecessor.

China responded by imposing duties of 100% on Canadian canola oil and meal and 25% on pork and seafood. It added a 75.8% tariff on canola seeds last August. Collectively, the import taxes effectively closed the Chinese market to Canadian canola exports, an industry group said.

China is hoping that Trump’s tariffs and other pressure tactics on allies such as Canada will drive them to pursue a foreign policy that is more independent from America’s. The government in Beijing has often accused the U.S. of rallying its allies to gang up on China, particularly under former President Joe Biden, Trump’s predecessor.

Canadian authorities incensed China in late 2018 when they detained Meng Wanzhou, the chief financial officer of Huawei Technologies Co., at the request of the United States, which wanted her extradited to face charges. China responded by detaining two Canadians on spying charges, casting a pall over relations for more than two years.

Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand, who is accompanying Carney on the trip, told her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi that the prime minister looks forward to setting the course for the development of relations and restarting dialogue in various fields, a Chinese Foreign Ministry statement said.

Wang described Carney's visit as a turning point that is expected to open up new prospects for the relationship, the statement said.