Key Takeaways
- A majority of Canadians (54%) support closer trade ties and economic agreements with China, according to a recent Ipsos poll.
- The poll suggests that Canadians are more interested in trade deals that prioritize direct benefits to the Canadian economy and cost of living than issues like national security, the environment, and human rights.
- Seventy-one percent of Canadians consider economic benefits to be either very or critically important for trading relationships.
- The Canadian government is seeking to restore trade and diplomatic ties with China, with Prime Minister Mark Carney set to travel to China to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Introduction to the Issue
As Prime Minister Mark Carney prepares to travel to China, a new poll suggests that a small majority of Canadians support more trade with Beijing. The Ipsos poll, conducted exclusively for Global News, found that 54% of Canadians expressed support for closer trade ties and economic agreements with China. This marks a turnaround from 2020, when eight out of 10 Canadians wanted the country to rely less on the Chinese market amid allegations of foreign interference and the arbitrary detention of two Canadian citizens.
Shift in Public Opinion
The shift in public opinion is attributed to the economic realities of the US trade war, according to Darrell Bricker, CEO of Ipsos Public Affairs. Bricker notes that the reason for the shift is not that people have suddenly fallen in love with China, but rather that they are thinking about who Canada can trade with, and China is the second-largest economy in the world. The poll suggests that Canadians are more interested in trade deals that prioritize direct benefits to the Canadian economy and cost of living than issues like national security, the environment, and human rights.
Upcoming Visit to China
Prime Minister Carney will be in China for five days, starting Tuesday, marking the first official trip to the country by a Canadian prime minister since 2017. He will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the trip, which the Prime Minister’s Office said will build on the two leaders’ first meeting at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in South Korea last October. The visit is seen as an opportunity to restore trade and diplomatic ties between the two countries, which have been strained in recent years.
Background on Canada-China Relations
Relations between Canada and China have been strained in recent years, particularly after the arbitrary detention of two Canadian citizens, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, in 2018. The detention was seen as retaliation for Canada’s arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou on US fraud charges. While the three were released in 2021, trade relations have continued to suffer, with Canada imposing tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and steel and aluminum, and China responding with tariffs on Canadian agricultural products.
Expert Insights
Experts say that Canada needs to be careful in its approach to trade with China, balancing economic benefits with concerns about national security, human rights, and the environment. Margaret McCuaig-Johnston, a senior fellow at the University of Ottawa, notes that Canada needs to be careful about exposing itself to problems down the road and ensure that Canadian businesses are not taken advantage of in the Chinese market. Michael Kovrig, now a senior advisor to the International Crisis Group, warns that economic interaction with China comes with a higher price tag in terms of measures to protect democracy, human rights, security, and sovereign independence.
Poll Findings
The Ipsos poll suggests that Canadians are prioritizing economic benefits in their trade relationships, with 71% considering economic benefits to be either very or critically important. Two-thirds of poll respondents said economic opportunity for Canadian businesses should be prioritized, while 60% put importance on human rights, 52% on national security, and 46% on environmental standards and shared values. The poll also found that just 25% of Canadians agreed that Canada should only pursue values-based trade agreements with countries that share its values on democracy and human rights, even if it means slower economic growth.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Ipsos poll suggests that a majority of Canadians support closer trade ties and economic agreements with China, prioritizing economic benefits over concerns about national security, human rights, and the environment. As Prime Minister Carney travels to China to meet with President Xi Jinping, Canada needs to carefully balance its approach to trade with China, ensuring that economic benefits are not compromised by concerns about national security, human rights, and the environment.
