China delays stricter canola rules in late reprieve for Canada

by Leroy Wright (feat. Colin Robertson)

Cosumnes Connection
September 5, 2016

Canada's announcement came during Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's visit to China, where he met Premier Li Keqiang to try to strengthen ties before the G20 summit this weekend in Hangzhou.

"Canada was among the first western power to establish diplomatic relations with Beijing in 1970 and I hope to start the process of rekindling bilateral ties", said Trudeau.

Trudeau argued it's because Canada is more open to trade than many countries right now and because of its "deep friendship" with China that goes back generations.

Still, Trudeau said Wednesday that the two sides will take steps to improve trade and investment, boost tourism, expand cultural exchanges and address climate change.

"We didn't pick and choose", he said.

China has said tougher import rules were necessary to prevent the spread of blackleg disease from Canadian canola into Chinese rapeseed, another name for the crop.

"Strengthening our relationship with China is essential to growing our middle class, and creating new opportunities for Canadian businesses".

"For these cases, the departments of both sides will continue to remain in touch and we believe it's essential for our two countries to remove disturbances and work together to uphold the other interests of China-Canada relations".

He also added that he will look into other opportunities where China could allow Canadian products and services be introduced so that Canada can gain more access to China's lucrative market. We have many problems of our own.

The bank's governors could decide on new members early in 2017, according to Canadian government documents, which also indicated that the size of Canada's share would be decided at that time.

"Any economic strategy that ignores China, or that treats that valuable relationship as anything less than critically important, is not just short-sighted, it's irresponsible", Trudeau said.

He also plans to raise the issue of jailed Canadian Kevin Garratt, who was arrested in China two years ago for espionage.

On Tuesday, Mr. Ma, perhaps China's best-known business figure, offered "special thanks" to the elder Mr. Trudeau.

Saint-Jacques said the prime minister raised the issue of human rights in his meetings with both Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and President Xi Jinping.

In an online poll conducted in June and July and commissioned by the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, 46 per cent of respondents said they would support a free trade agreement, compared with 36 per cent in a similar 2014 poll.

"When you negotiate with the Chinese, despite the tea and buns, they are much more dragon than panda", former Canadian diplomat in Hong Kong Colin Robertson told CBC.

Canada will apply to join the China-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Ottawa's finance department said Wednesday, in a coup for Beijing after Washington had tried to dissuade USA allies from signing up. "Until now, the China-Canada relationship has somewhat lacked in stability and regularity".