Carney should be cautious about a China reset mirage

Prime Minister Mark Carney is travelling to Beijing to seek a reset in relations and new trade ties, and the article warns past reset efforts have not produced lasting market access for Canadian products.

Prime Minister Mark Carney is travelling to Beijing to seek a reset in relations with China and to expand trade and investment opportunities. The visit follows a deterioration in ties after 2018, when the arrest of a Huawei executive was followed by the detention of two Canadians. Canada is looking to diversify exports amid U.S. tariff pressure, and past Canadian leaders have also attempted resets with China. The article argues that previous efforts have not delivered stable, long-term access to the Chinese market. Noted points: - The trip is framed as an effort to rebuild relations that turned bitter in 2018 after the Huawei executive's arrest and subsequent detentions of two Canadians. - U.S. tariffs are cited as a reason Canada seeks to diversify exports; China could offer markets for meat, seafood, oilseeds and other products. - The article notes that Beijing has at times blocked Canadian products such as canola and pork, seen as trade retaliation or political pressure. - It suggests a possible exchange could involve a partial reduction or review of Canadian tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles in return for lifting restrictions on Canadian canola. - Mr. Carney is reported to want to separate cooperation areas from security-sensitive ones (for example, artificial intelligence, critical minerals and defence) and to pursue a "no-surprises" relationship. - The piece notes recent political moves: two Liberal MPs were asked to cut short a trip to Taiwan, and the foreign-agent registry mandated in 2024 has not yet been set up, with a former ambassador saying it may be delayed until after the trip. Summary: The article says the immediate aim of the Beijing visit is to open trade and investment channels, but it cautions that past reset efforts did not guarantee lasting market access and could leave Canada exposed to future trade restrictions. Outcomes depend on the talks in Beijing and any specific agreements reached; the results of the visit are undetermined at this time.