Canada’s prime minister is visiting China this week for the first time in nearly 10 years as the country looks to fix strained relations and rely less on the United States for trade.
Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived Wednesday as part of a shift in Canada’s foreign policy. With U.S. President Donald Trump imposing tariffs and suggesting Canada could become “the 51st state,” Carney says Canada must build a more independent economy and expand trade with other countries.
Carney has set a goal of doubling Canada’s non-U.S. exports over the next decade. “Canada is focused on building new partnerships around the world,” he said ahead of the trip.
He will be in China until Saturday, then travel to Qatar and Switzerland for the World Economic Forum.
Relations between Canada and China have been tense in recent years, especially after Canada detained Huawei executive Meng Wenzhou at the request of the U.S. in 2018. China responded by jailing two Canadians, who were later released along with Meng in 2021.
Trade tensions remain. Canada has placed steep tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, steel, and aluminum, while China has hit back with tariffs on Canadian products such as canola and seafood.
Chinese officials have welcomed Carney’s visit as a chance to improve relations, though experts say Canada remains closely tied to the U.S.
Carney has also been working to repair relations with India and is expected to visit later this year as Canada looks to diversify its global trade partners.
