erfolgen – die Arbeit muss getan werden

Premierminister Mark Carney ist an diesem Wochenende zum G20-Gipfel in Südafrika, ein Treffen, das bezeichnenderweise von der größten Volkswirtschaft der Welt boykottiert wird. Es ist der jüngste in einer Reihe von Maßnahmen von US-Präsident Donald Trump, die darauf hindeuten, dass sich die Weltordnung rasant verändert. Doch da Kanada seine Beziehungen zu anderen Ländern im Kontext einer zunehmend unvorhersehbaren und unzuverlässigen Beziehung zu den USA diversifiziert, muss seine Ausrichtung auf China insbesondere strategisch erfolgen – die Arbeit muss getan werden, während die Risiken ausgewogen und das Land intern gestärkt werden. Carney hat bereits mit dem Aufbau begonnen, wie bei seinem Treffen letzten Monat mit Chinse-Präsident Xi Jinping am Rande des Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation-Gipfels in Südkorea zu sehen war, und bezeichnete ihn als “längst überfällig” und einen “Wendepunkt in der Beziehung”.

world order is rapidly shifting.

Prime Minister Mark Carney is in South Africa for the G20 summit this weekend, a meeting that’s tellingly being boycotted by the world’s largest economy. It’s the latest in a series of moves by U.S. President Donald Trump indicating the world order is rapidly shifting.

But as Canada starts to diversify its ties with other countries amidst an increasingly unpredictable and unreliable relationship with the U.S., its pivot toward China, in particular, will need to be strategic — the work must be done while balancing the risks and strengthening the country internally.

Carney has already started laying the groundwork, as seen in his meeting last month with Chinse President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea, calling it “long overdue” and a “turning point in the relationship.”

Some analysts say a first step in diversifying and increasing trade with China is ending the trade war between the two countries. That would include Canada removing its 100 per cent tariff on Chinese electric vehicles — something the federal government is now reviewing. 

Currently, China has levied counter-tariffs on Canadian canola, seafood and pork. The Canada China Business Council (CCBC) estimates the impact to be in the billions. 

For months, industry voices and experts have said this trade war made less sense as U.S.-Canada relations soured.

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“If it was so easy for our canola farmers to pivot to other markets, we would have done it,” said Greg Chin, associate professor of political science at York University in Toronto. 

He says there are other opportunities to expand trade, especially for natural resources and agricultural products, including lumber, pork and beef. 

Manufacturing, research and development opportunities

Strengthening ties isn’t just limited to the trade in goods, but can be expanded in the research and development, manufacturing and service sectors. This is especially key as China has become a leading technology power.

For Canada to catch up, some argue it is better to work with China instead of trying to compete in vain.