{"id":85463,"date":"2025-12-09T14:07:08","date_gmt":"2025-12-09T19:07:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ccbc.com\/?p=85463"},"modified":"2025-12-12T15:04:42","modified_gmt":"2025-12-12T20:04:42","slug":"canada-china-commercial-relations-at-a-turning-point","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ccbc.com\/fr\/ccbc-update\/canada-china-commercial-relations-at-a-turning-point\/","title":{"rendered":"Canada-China Commercial Relations at a Turning Point"},"content":{"rendered":"[et_pb_section fb_built=\u00a0\u00bb1″ fullwidth=\u00a0\u00bbon\u00a0\u00bb disabled_on=\u00a0\u00bbon|on|off\u00a0\u00bb _builder_version=\u00a0\u00bb4.16″ background_image=\u00a0\u00bbhttps:\/\/ccbc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/hero-single-event-1.jpg\u00a0\u00bb custom_padding=\u00a0\u00bb||75px|\u00a0\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00a0\u00bb{}\u00a0\u00bb][et_pb_fullwidth_post_title author=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb comments=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb featured_image=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb text_color=\u00a0\u00bblight\u00a0\u00bb disabled_on=\u00a0\u00bboff|off|\u00a0\u00bb _builder_version=\u00a0\u00bb4.16″ background_size=\u00a0\u00bbinitial\u00a0\u00bb background_position=\u00a0\u00bbtop_left\u00a0\u00bb background_repeat=\u00a0\u00bbrepeat\u00a0\u00bb text_orientation=\u00a0\u00bbcenter\u00a0\u00bb custom_padding=\u00a0\u00bb50px|||\u00a0\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00a0\u00bb{}\u00a0\u00bb][\/et_pb_fullwidth_post_title][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=\u00a0\u00bb1″ fullwidth=\u00a0\u00bbon\u00a0\u00bb disabled_on=\u00a0\u00bb||on\u00a0\u00bb _builder_version=\u00a0\u00bb4.16″ background_image=\u00a0\u00bbhttps:\/\/ccbc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/hero-single-event-1.jpg\u00a0\u00bb custom_padding=\u00a0\u00bb||75px|\u00a0\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00a0\u00bb{}\u00a0\u00bb][et_pb_fullwidth_post_title author=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb comments=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb featured_image=\u00a0\u00bboff\u00a0\u00bb text_color=\u00a0\u00bblight\u00a0\u00bb disabled_on=\u00a0\u00bboff|off|\u00a0\u00bb admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbFullwidth Post Title – mobile \u00a0\u00bb _builder_version=\u00a0\u00bb4.16″ title_font_size=\u00a0\u00bb18px\u00a0\u00bb background_size=\u00a0\u00bbinitial\u00a0\u00bb background_position=\u00a0\u00bbtop_left\u00a0\u00bb background_repeat=\u00a0\u00bbrepeat\u00a0\u00bb text_orientation=\u00a0\u00bbcenter\u00a0\u00bb custom_padding=\u00a0\u00bb50px|||\u00a0\u00bb title_font_size_tablet=\u00a0\u00bb\u00a0\u00bb title_font_size_phone=\u00a0\u00bb\u00a0\u00bb title_font_size_last_edited=\u00a0\u00bbon|tablet\u00a0\u00bb z_index_tablet=\u00a0\u00bb500″ title_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=\u00a0\u00bb0px\u00a0\u00bb title_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=\u00a0\u00bb0px\u00a0\u00bb title_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=\u00a0\u00bb1px\u00a0\u00bb meta_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=\u00a0\u00bb0px\u00a0\u00bb meta_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=\u00a0\u00bb0px\u00a0\u00bb meta_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=\u00a0\u00bb1px\u00a0\u00bb box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=\u00a0\u00bb0px\u00a0\u00bb box_shadow_vertical_tablet=\u00a0\u00bb0px\u00a0\u00bb box_shadow_blur_tablet=\u00a0\u00bb40px\u00a0\u00bb box_shadow_spread_tablet=\u00a0\u00bb0px\u00a0\u00bb text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=\u00a0\u00bb0px\u00a0\u00bb text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=\u00a0\u00bb0px\u00a0\u00bb text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=\u00a0\u00bb1px\u00a0\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00a0\u00bb{}\u00a0\u00bb][\/et_pb_fullwidth_post_title][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=\u00a0\u00bb1″ _builder_version=\u00a0\u00bb4.16″ global_colors_info=\u00a0\u00bb{}\u00a0\u00bb][et_pb_row _builder_version=\u00a0\u00bb4.16″ background_size=\u00a0\u00bbinitial\u00a0\u00bb background_position=\u00a0\u00bbtop_left\u00a0\u00bb background_repeat=\u00a0\u00bbrepeat\u00a0\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00a0\u00bb{}\u00a0\u00bb][et_pb_column type=\u00a0\u00bb4_4″ _builder_version=\u00a0\u00bb4.16″ custom_padding=\u00a0\u00bb|||\u00a0\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00a0\u00bb{}\u00a0\u00bb custom_padding__hover=\u00a0\u00bb|||\u00a0\u00bb][et_pb_text disabled_on=\u00a0\u00bboff|off|off\u00a0\u00bb admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbEvent information\u00a0\u00bb _builder_version=\u00a0\u00bb4.27.5″ hover_enabled=\u00a0\u00bb0″ global_colors_info=\u00a0\u00bb{}\u00a0\u00bb sticky_enabled=\u00a0\u00bb0″]\n

Summary Report from CCBC\u2019s 47th AGM and Business Forum<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Nov 3, 2025 | Beijing<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Executive Summary<\/strong><\/p>\n

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This briefing document synthesizes key themes from the 47th Annual General Meeting and Business Forum of the Canada China Business Council (CCBC). The central theme is a significant \u00ab\u00a0turning point\u00a0\u00bb in Canada-China relations, marked by renewed high-level government engagement and a mutual commitment to a \u00ab\u00a0pragmatic and constructive\u00a0\u00bb approach. This recalibration is creating new momentum for commercial ties in an economic relationship described as the second most important for Canada globally.<\/p>\n

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Key sector analyses reveal both substantial opportunities and persistent challenges. In Agri-Food<\/strong>, China remains Canada’s second-largest market, with a growing middle class driving demand for safe, high-quality products like seafood, pork, and pulses. However, Canadian exporters continue to face tariffs and trade restrictions. In response, industry is focusing on innovation, such as transitioning pulses from commodities to value-added ingredients, and leveraging e-commerce and technical support to build a competitive advantage.<\/p>\n

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The Energy and Natural Resources<\/strong> sector has been transformed by the expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline, which has made China one of the top buyers of Canadian crude oil. This, along with emerging LNG exports and clean technology partnerships in areas like hydrogen, underscores a deep complementarity.<\/p>\n

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The discourse on critical minerals, particularly rare earths, highlights a crucial debate: speakers advocate for pursuing robust, distributed global supply chains through cooperation with technologically dominant China, rather than a potentially escalatory and unfeasible goal of \u00ab\u00a0independence.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n

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In Financial Services and Investment<\/strong>, long-standing Canadian institutions like BMO, Manulife, and Brookfield are deeply integrated into the Chinese market through joint ventures and direct investments. The sector sees opportunities in asset management, cross-border financing, and catering to a growing private wealth channel, though it requires navigating complex regulatory landscapes and aligning with China’s strategic policy priorities.<\/p>\n

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Across all sectors, speakers emphasized the foundational importance of business-to-business and people-to-people relationships, which have sustained commercial ties through periods of governmental friction. The role of organizations like the CCBC is viewed as essential for facilitating dialogue, building trust, and advocating for a stable, predictable trade environment. While optimism is palpable, stakeholders acknowledge that geopolitical volatility and commercial risks necessitate careful strategy, diversification, and clear, transparent government policy.<\/p>\n

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  1. A New Chapter in Bilateral Relations: \u00ab\u00a0A Turning Point\u00a0\u00bb<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    A consensus emerged among speakers that the Canada-China relationship has entered a new, more constructive phase following a period of significant challenges. This shift is primarily attributed to recent high-level diplomatic engagements.<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

      \n
    • High-Level Meetings:<\/strong> The meeting between Prime Minister Carney and President Xi on the margins of the APEC Summit in Korea was repeatedly cited as a pivotal moment. They affirmed a \u00ab\u00a0joint commitment to renewing the relationship… in a pragmatic and constructive way.\u00a0\u00bb This was followed by meetings between foreign ministers, trade ministers, and the reconvening of the Joint Economic and Trade Commission (JETC) for the first time since 2017.<\/li>\n
    • \u00ab\u00a0Pragmatic and Constructive\u00a0\u00bb Approach:<\/strong> This phrase, originating from Prime Minister Carney, was embraced by the business community as the desired framework for moving forward. The CCBC expressed its readiness to support both governments in transforming this vision into tangible commercial outcomes.<\/li>\n
    • Official Mandate for Progress:<\/strong> Ambassador Jennifer May noted that leaders \u00ab\u00a0directed officials to move quickly to resolve outstanding trade issues and irritants.\u00a0\u00bb This has created a sense of urgency and purpose among government agencies to address long-standing barriers.<\/li>\n
    • Tangible Outcomes:<\/strong> A significant early result of this renewed dialogue was China’s announcement reinstating Canada’s \u00ab\u00a0approved destination status\u00a0\u00bb for tourism, a move seen as a welcome step toward enhancing people-to-people ties.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

       <\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

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      1. Core Sectors: Opportunities and Challenges<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Panel discussions provided in-depth analysis of key sectors that form the bedrock of the bilateral economic relationship.<\/p>\n

         <\/p>\n

        2.1. Agriculture and Agri-Food<\/strong><\/p>\n

         <\/p>\n

        As the historical foundation of the trade relationship, agriculture remains a central pillar. China is Canada’s second-largest market for agriculture, agri-food, fish, and seafood products.<\/p>\n

         <\/p>\n

        Key Opportunities:<\/strong><\/p>\n

          \n
        • Growing Middle-Class Demand:<\/strong> Chinese consumers increasingly seek safe, high-quality, and premium food products, a demand Canada is well-positioned to meet with its strong brand reputation for quality and safety.<\/li>\n
        • Food Security Partnership:<\/strong> China’s policy focus on food security and sustainable farming aligns with Canadian expertise and production capabilities in grains, meat, and dairy.<\/li>\n
        • Diversified Product Demand:<\/strong> The market is highly diversified, encompassing:\n
            \n
          • Seafood:<\/strong> High demand for Nova Scotian products like lobster, surf clams, and scallops, with 85% of Nova Scotia’s seafood being MSC certified.<\/li>\n
          • Pork:<\/strong> China is the world’s largest consumer of pork, and the Canadian industry is working to increase exports of fresh chilled meat.<\/li>\n
          • Pulses:<\/strong> China has become the world’s largest market for Canadian yellow peas, used in a wide range of applications from vermicelli noodles and protein fractionation to livestock feed.<\/li>\n
          • Grains:<\/strong> Saskatchewan is a major supplier of canola, non-durum wheat, and lentils, with a 10-year average crop production of 35 million metric tons.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
          • Innovation and E-Commerce:<\/strong> The advanced Chinese e-commerce and live-streaming market presents a significant channel for Canadian producers. The success of ordering and receiving fresh seafood within a 30-minute taxi ride was cited as an example of the market’s efficiency.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

             <\/p>\n

            Persistent Challenges:<\/strong><\/p>\n

              \n
            • Tariffs and Trade Restrictions:<\/strong> These issues remain \u00ab\u00a0at the forefront of our discussions,\u00a0\u00bb affecting Canadian canola, pork, pulses, and seafood.<\/li>\n
            • Regulatory Cooperation:<\/strong> While relationships between agencies like the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and their Chinese counterparts are generally good, there is a need for continuous work to streamline processes, such as inspections, to enhance efficiency.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

               <\/p>\n