【By Liu Bai, Observers Network】According to a report by Bloomberg on the 23rd, Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand is planning to visit China and India to discuss issues that have troubled bilateral relations in recent years and seek ways to cooperate. However, this report also questions whether Canada wants China to withdraw its tariff countermeasures, and what kind of exchange conditions can Canada actually offer China?

Anand revealed during an interview at the UN General Assembly in New York that she will visit China and India in the coming weeks to improve tense relations with these two major Asian economies. She will meet separately with the foreign ministers of China and India to explore ways to cooperate on issues that have troubled bilateral relations in recent years, including trade conflicts with China and accusations against India regarding transnational violence.

"We must ensure good bilateral relations with important economic powers in the Indo-Pacific region. Our cooperation with these partners aims to ensure Canada's interests are prioritized," said Anand.

She stated that she plans to advance Canada's interests in areas such as trade, climate change, defense, and security during the upcoming talks.

At the same time, she could not help but reiterate her old arguments, saying, "We need to cooperate with China in areas where we can collaborate, and challenge them where necessary. This is the core of our Indo-Pacific strategy and the reality of complex diplomatic relations in 2025."

September 23, New York, USA, during the United Nations General Assembly, Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand, Visual China

Regarding India, after a Canadian Sikh activist was killed in British Columbia, the Karan government has made efforts to repair bilateral relations with India.

Anand said that domestic public safety is the top priority of the government. She added that the Canadian National Security Advisor just met with his Indian counterpart, and both sides discussed issues of transnational repression. "For the safety and security of Canadian citizens, we will continue to closely monitor this matter," she said.

China is Canada's second-largest trading partner after the United States. Canada is the world's largest rapeseed exporter, with exports of rapeseed products to China reaching nearly 5 billion Canadian dollars (about 3.63 billion US dollars) in 2024.

On August 12, after nearly a year of investigation, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced that imported rapeseed from Canada was found to be dumped, and decided to implement temporary anti-dumping measures in the form of deposits, starting from August 14, imposing a deposit of 75.8% on all Canadian companies.

The Globe and Mail reported that after the Chinese deposit was imposed, the cost of Canadian rapeseed exports soared, quickly losing the global second-largest market of 4.9 billion US dollars. Four thousand oilseed farmers in western Canada lost several thousand dollars per person.

Bloomberg said that relations between Canada and China and India became tense under the Trudeau government, and now the Karan government has been trying to ease tensions with the two countries. American protectionism has also made Canada urgently need to promote diversification of trade relations, and tariffs imposed by China on Canadian rapeseed, pork, and seafood have further worsened its economic difficulties.

China took retaliatory measures by imposing tariffs after Canada followed the United States in imposing 100% tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum last year. Currently, Canada is reviewing the tariffs on electric vehicles, but if they are canceled at this time, it may jeopardize the upcoming negotiations for the USMCA review with the United States.

This raises a question: What concrete exchange conditions can Canada offer when seeking China to reduce import taxes?

Regarding the trade restrictions taken by Canada, China pointed out that it hopes Canada will immediately correct its wrong practices and stop the restrictions, from the perspective of maintaining the multilateral trade system and the overall situation of Sino-Canadian economic and trade relations. China will take all necessary measures to resolutely protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises.

The report said that Karan is scheduled to meet with Chinese Premier Li Qiang during the United Nations General Assembly on the evening of the 23rd, and both sides have already spoken earlier this year. China recently extended the anti-dumping investigation on Canadian rapeseed exports, providing space for continued negotiations between the two countries.

Karan said on the 22nd that Canada might be willing to cooperate with China in certain areas, such as "energy and basic manufacturing," while avoiding areas involving national security and privacy. He also said that there are opportunities for cooperation between Canada and China on climate change, and he described China as "very sincere and actively involved" in this issue.

He said during an event hosted by the U.S. think tank the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), "Based on my experience dealing with China, their attitude towards climate issues is very sincere and active. It's a country governed by engineers, which has a deep understanding of how to solve emission-related problems through engineering technology. Moreover, they have already established real competitive advantages in many such fields."

From September 6 to 9, Canadian Member of Parliament Cody Bloyis accompanied Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe on a delegation visit to China, aiming to urge China to cancel the import tariffs on Canadian rapeseed.

Bloyis said in an interview, "There will be more Canadian federal ministers visiting China in the future and engaging in exchanges with their counterparts. I believe such interactions will create more communication opportunities for both sides and help resolve current trade frictions between the two countries."

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