Resetting relationship with China will be difficult, experts say

As the Canadian government begins to pursue a rapprochement with Beijing, experts on China say resetting ties between the two countries would require Prime Minister Mark Carney to walk a narrow diplomatic tightrope. To ultimately succeed, they say, he must somehow persuade Beijing to drop tariffs on Canadian canola without agreeing to lower restrictions on Chinese electric-vehicle imports or sideline Canada’s human-rights priorities. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand was in Beijing last week in part to advance discussions on a potential meeting between Mr. Carney and Chinese President Xi Jinping aimed at thawing a frigid bilateral relationship. That face-to-face conversation could take place before the end of October and China is hoping the result will include ending the 100-per-cent tariff on Chinese-made EVs that Ottawa imposed in mid-2024. China slapped 100-per-cent tariffs on Canadian canola oil, meal and peas in March – as well as 25 per cent on seafood and pork – in ...