Canada seeks to thaw freeze with China during premier Carney’s visit

By Barry Ellsworth

TRENTON, Canada (AA) - Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to China yielded agreements on Thursday, with the two countries signing a memorandum of understanding covering oil, gas and clean energy.

The trip marked the first visit by a Canadian prime minister to China in eight years and signaled Ottawa’s efforts to reduce reliance on the US as its primary trading partner.

The memorandum does not commit China to purchasing additional Canadian oil or natural gas. Instead, it calls for further talks in several areas, including oil, liquefied natural gas and petroleum gas, and builds on previous discussions, officials said.

“They are very clear, they would like more Canadian products,” Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson told reporters. He accompanied Carney and a delegation of senior cabinet ministers on the trip.

Other agreements covered Canadian pet food exports and expanded tourism cooperation, public broadcaster CBC News reported.

Carney said Canada and China have been working to “put in place the foundation for the new strategic partnership,” adding that the two countries must be prepared “for the new world order.”

Foreign Minister Anita Anand raised China’s tariffs on Canadian pork, canola and seafood, describing the talks with Chinese officials as “productive.”

Beijing imposed the tariffs last year after Ottawa introduced duties on Chinese electric vehicles, steel and aluminum.

Carney has said he aims to double non-US exports over the next 10 years.