Canada-China business began experiencing disruptions due to COVID-19 in January 2020, raising the concern of CCBC member companies that felt compelled to take action and help contain the outbreak.

As the situation in Wuhan and Greater China worsened and concerns mounted, CCBC established an online donation portal with the Canadian Red Cross as a channel to support the Red Cross Society of China. Thanks to the generosity of dozens of corporations and individuals, C$267,966 was raised in the span of a few short weeks. CCBC would like to recognize members who contributed, including Power Corporation of Canada, Canadian Red Meat Industry, Canpotex, Mackenzie Investments, Huawei Technologies Canada, Gowling WLG and BLG, in addition to a number of individuals and anonymous contributors who made significant donations during these trying times.

Now the tables have turned and Canada is in need, and our chapters have been busy supporting personal protective equipment (PPE) requests over the past few weeks. Members like Canada Goose, Magna and Linamar are shifting local production to make masks and ventilators. Some members are donating PPE, some offering teams’ logistics and negotiating capability. Companies want to contribute, and members like the Governments of Ontario and BC have created portals to consolidate assistance. To ensure the products meet the necessary standards, China’s Ministry of Commerce put out a 3/31 “Announcement on Orderly Export of Medical Materials,” which was helpfully translated by Chinalawtranslate.com and includes useful lists of companies and their State Drug Administration Registration Information for COVID-19 tests, ventilators, protective suits, masks, etc.

Much as Canadian government and corporate PPE donations flowed to China in February, donations are now coming in the other direction, supported by Chinese companies including Bank of China, Huawei and China Eastern Airlines with Alibaba Group and the Jack Ma Foundation all demonstrating solidarity, showing that generosity and social responsibility goes both ways.

One of our members, Overdrive Fuel Cell Engineering, is challenging 20 CCBC members to join them in pooling a total of $200,000 in funds to equip a major Canadian hospital with PPE to keep staff working safely for one month. Lotta Ygartua (lotta[at]ccbc.com) can connect you with Overdrive to make this happen. Feel free to reach out to Lotta or to your local chapter director. This is a period of disruption, but also an opportunity for creativity and innovation, where Canadian and Chinese members are driving new collaborations and relationships that will carry us into the post-COVID-19 era.