Since CCBC’s last survey in 2023, the global business environment has become increasingly complex as rising protectionism, supply chain diversification, and geopolitical uncertainty have required greater pragmatism from business and political leaders alike.
In the first half of 2025, China sustained its position as one of Canada’s top trading partners. Bilateral trade reached CAD 64.2 billion, reflecting a robust 9% year-over-year increase. However, quarterly trends signaled a loss of momentum, with growth decelerating from 7% in the first quarter to 2% in the second. The slowdown was largely driven by weaker Canadian exports to China, reflecting the impact of Chinese counter tariffs on Canadian agricultural goods.
China remains an important investment partner for Canada, ranking as Canada’s third-largest source of foreign direct investment (FDI) and the fourth-largest destination for Canadian outbound FDI within Asia. In 2024, bilateral FDI stock reached CAD 47.4 billion—the highest level in more than a decade and over double the CAD 23.6 billion recorded in 2014.