Beijing/Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): As Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in China on Wednesday, Beijing signalled hopes of drawing the long-time US ally slightly away from Washington, amid growing strains between Canada and the United States.
Chinese state media used the visit to call on Ottawa to pursue an independent foreign policy course, describing it as “strategic autonomy” from the US. Canada has traditionally been one of America’s closest allies, but China appears to be betting that US President Donald Trump’s aggressive economic policies—and recent military actions—could weaken that relationship.
Beijing had earlier expressed frustration with former US President Joe Biden’s efforts to strengthen alliances with Europe, Australia, India and Canada to counter China’s influence. Now, Chinese officials and commentators see an opportunity to loosen those ties, though they remain cautious about how far Canada might go.
Prime Minister Carney has framed his China visit largely around trade, portraying it as part of a broader strategy to diversify Canada’s economic partnerships and reduce reliance on the US market. Relations between Ottawa and Washington have been under strain after Trump imposed tariffs on Canadian exports and made controversial remarks suggesting Canada could become America’s 51st state.
Carney, who assumed office last year, is attempting to reset ties with Beijing after more than six years of strained relations under his predecessor, Justin Trudeau. The relationship soured in late 2018 following Canada’s arrest of a Chinese technology executive at the request of the US. Tensions escalated further in 2024 when Canada imposed a 100% tariff on Chinese-made electric vehicles, aligning with similar measures taken by the Biden administration.
China responded with retaliatory tariffs on key Canadian exports, including canola, seafood and pork, as well as countermeasures to Canada’s 25% tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminium.
In an editorial this week, the state-run China Daily said Canada should reflect on the causes of the deterioration in bilateral ties, blaming the previous Trudeau government’s alignment with US efforts to contain China. The paper argued that Ottawa could avoid repeating past mistakes by maintaining strategic autonomy in its China policy.
“If Ottawa still chooses to subject its China policy to the will of Washington again in the future, it will only render its previous efforts to mend ties with Beijing in vain,” the editorial warned.
Another state-run outlet, the Global Times, suggested that the economic cost of following the US in imposing high tariffs on China may have prompted Canada to rethink its approach.
Canadian officials, however, have tempered expectations, saying Carney’s visit may yield incremental progress on trade but is unlikely to result in the immediate removal of existing tariffs.
