WHAT’S GOING ON WITH CHINA?

Before Trump took office, Canada was already making moves toward China. During his first trip in 2016, Trudeau launched exploratory trade talks. Since another trip last December, when an anticipated announcement of formal negotiations did not materialize, not much has moved on that front.

Experts told the National Post that Canada is now even less likely to enter formal talks with China because of a clause in the USMCA that places restrictions on free trade agreements with “non-market” countries, including letting other USMCA partners review agreements with such countries before they are signed. As former Conservative trade minister Stockwell Day told the Post, given Trump’s aggressive attitude toward China, “It’s clearly intended as a ‘beware’ note to us.”

Reporters asked Trudeau Tuesday how he planned to report his progress with China to the U.S., per the new agreement. “Obviously China is a significant growing player on global trade and we, as always, will look for ways to engage, deepen and improve our trading relationship with them in ways that are beneficial both to Canadians and to everyone,” he said.

Hong Kong, which governs its own trade affairs, is separately seeking a free-trade agreement with Canada, its commerce secretary, Edward Yau, told the Post in an interview last week. He met with Trade Minister Jim Carr and Small Business Minister Mary Ng to discuss it.

However, a Canadian senior official suggested that the government is more interested in a “comprehensive” approach to China.