Mark Carney seeks to expand trade with China while avoiding U.S. tensions.

Prime Minister Mark Carney travelled to Beijing after meeting regional leaders at home to press for higher non-U.S. exports and foreign investment, while juggling competing provincial demands and relations with the United States.

Prime Minister Mark Carney left Canada for Beijing with several cabinet ministers and MPs, after detouring to meet B.C. coastal chiefs concerned about increased oil exports through their territory. The trip is described by officials as focused on doubling non-U.S. exports and attracting global investment. China has signalled it would expand trade if Canada eases tariffs aligned with the United States. At the same time, regional leaders and advocacy groups have raised differing priorities and concerns ahead of meetings with Chinese officials. Key developments: - Carney met B.C. coastal chiefs before departing, who expressed opposition to a pipeline that would increase oil tanker traffic along the coast. - The federal trip aims to "elevate engagement" on trade, energy, agriculture and international security and to increase non-U.S. exports and investment. - China has indicated it would increase purchases if Canada drops U.S.-aligned tariffs, including on electric vehicles, according to the article. - Provincial leaders are divided: Saskatchewan and Alberta seek the lifting of Chinese canola tariffs and faster approvals for pipelines and LNG, while B.C. opposes a new oil pipeline; Ontario's premier urged retaining 100-per-cent tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles. - The federal government has said it is keeping "guardrails" around critical minerals, defence and artificial intelligence and has not announced reversals on past policies regarding oilsands investment. - Human rights organizations sent an open letter urging Canada to raise cases such as the detention of Jimmy Lai and other Canadians with Chinese authorities. Summary: Carney's Beijing visit is being framed as an economic push to expand markets and investment outside the U.S. while managing domestic provincial divisions and the sensitivities of Canada–U.S. relations. He is due to meet Chinese leaders to discuss trade, energy, agriculture and security, and the outcome of those discussions is undetermined at this time.