A Half-Century Story of Canada-China Relations
Canada’s diplomatic relationship with China stretches back more than 50 years, beginning when Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau made a historic decision that placed Canada among the earliest Western nations to formally recognise the People’s Republic of China. That decision in 1970 marked a strategic break from Taiwan and laid the groundwork for decades of evolving ties between the two countries.
Early Engagement and Business Expansion
In the early 1970s, Trudeau’s landmark move paved the way for engagement with Chinese leadership, including his visit to meet Mao Zedong — the first by a Canadian prime minister since the Communist Party came to power. Over the following decades, leaders such as Jean Chrétien continued to push for expanded trade, even in the face of criticism over human rights issues like the Tiananmen Square crackdown.
Relations Strain After High-Profile Arrests
The relationship took a sharp downturn in 2018 after Canada detained a senior executive from Chinese tech giant Huawei at the request of the United States. China responded by detaining two Canadian citizens — Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor — on espionage-related charges, an episode that soured diplomatic trust and left deep scars that took years to heal.
Beyond the detentions, Canada banned Huawei and ZTE equipment from its telecommunications networks and later aligned with U.S. tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and other goods. Beijing responded with retaliatory duties on Canadian canola, seafood, pork and other exports, deepening the economic chill between the two countries.
Shifts in Tone Under New Leadership
When Mark Carney became Canada’s prime minister, he inherited strained ties with Beijing. After a constructive meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in late 2025, Carney was invited to Beijing for talks aimed at rebuilding bilateral relations — a rare step in nearly a decade without a Canadian leader’s official visit to China.
Carney’s approach reflects a broader strategy: seeking to reduce Canada’s heavy dependence on the United States and cultivate economic partnerships in other global markets, including China. His mission in Beijing involves discussing ways to ease trade frictions, especially tariffs, and advancing cooperation in areas like agriculture and technology.
Balancing Trade, Diplomacy and Strategic Autonomy
Beijing has publicly encouraged Ottawa to craft a foreign policy that is less influenced by the U.S., a message carried in state media as “strategic autonomy.” However, Canada’s leadership remains cautious, aiming to balance economic cooperation with safeguarding national interests and addressing long-standing concerns such as market access and political differences.
Looking Ahead: Recalibration, Not Reconciliation
Today’s efforts under Carney are not purely about restoring ties to their historic peak but reimagining how Canada and China interact in a rapidly changing global economy. The long and sometimes rocky path from Pierre Trudeau’s early engagement to modern-day recalibration highlights the complexities of diplomacy, trade, and geopolitics — and sets the stage for how the two nations might navigate competitive and cooperative interests moving forward.
