Chinese Premier Li Qiang has expressed hope that trade tensions with Canada could be de-escalated and their strained ties stabilised in a “practical and constructive” manner as tougher US tariffs loom.
In a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in New York on Tuesday, Li called on both sides to act responsibly towards a “healthy, stable and sustainable” partnership while urging Ottawa to adopt a “correct” perception of China.
Carney later described it as a “very constructive set of discussions” that took place on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly.
Li’s sit-down meeting with Carney marked renewed efforts to mend troubled relations, which deteriorated with the 2018 arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou during the prime ministership of Justin Trudeau, who left office earlier this year.
Ties further deteriorated after Canada imposed tariffs on imports of China-made electric vehicles as well as Chinese steel and aluminium last year. Beijing retaliated by levying hefty taxes on Canadian canola imports.
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