China puts on friendly face for Canada

China’s ambassador to Canada wants the two countries to join forces to push back against American “bullying.”

Wang Di has been making the rounds, meeting with Canadian media and industry officials to spread that message.

One of the major stumbling blocks to the two countries working together is the 100 per cent tariff that China recently imposed on Canadian canola oil and meal and yellow peas, and the 25 per cent tariff on pork and certain seafood products.

Wang said those tariffs were a direct response to Canada’s 100 percent tariff on Chinese electric vehicles, and 25 percent tariff on steel and aluminum products.

Those tariffs can be dropped as quickly as they were applied, he added.

“China’s countermeasures are not permanent. They can be adjusted in light with the adjustment and changes of the Canadian policies,” he said in an interview with the Canadian Press, according to a transcript published on the embassy’s website.

“So, we hope that Canada can take measures to rectify its wrongdoings as soon as possible.”

Pulse Canada president Greg Cherewyk met with Wang during his media blitz. He said the key message is that the next move is Canada’s.

“The ball is in Canada’s court now,” he said.

Cherewyk understands why politicians did not want to talk about removing the tariff on Chinese electric vehicles, steel and aluminum during the Canadian election campaign.

“Those are industries that are located in vote-rich Quebec and Ontario,” he said.

“It would be political suicide.”

But now that the election is in the rearview mirror, the subject can be broached in Ottawa.

“We do have an opportunity to have a more constructive conversation about a path forward,” said Cherewyk.

Pulse Canada is working with the Canola Council of Canada, the Canadian Meat Council and seafood exporters to encourage Ottawa to reach out and start negotiating with Beijing.

“It’s unique because that is not a coalition that existed before,” he said.

The group will be contacting relevant members of prime minister Mark Carney’s cabinet shortly after they are sworn in, stressing the need to resolve the trade impasse as soon as possible.

The canola council was contacted for this story but declined to comment.

Wang hopes that the relationship between the two countries can be “reset.” He said Canadian people, businesses and media are calling for stronger ties between the two nations.

“China regards Canada as a friend, as always,” he said in the Canadian Press interview.

“The question is whether Canada sees China as a friend.”

Wang said China has taken notice that Canada has not backed down in its trade dispute with the United States.

“As far as I know, China and Canada are the only two countries in the world that have taken concrete and real countermeasures against the U.S. tariffs,” he said.

He called on the Canadian government to “strengthen practical co-operation” and “work in the same direction” as China.

He believes the two countries can work with other nations to promote globalization by upholding institutions such as the United Nations and the World Trade Organization.

“China is Canada’s opportunity, not Canada’s threat,” said Wang.

China-Canada trade reached US$93 billion in 2024, with Canada running a tiny surplus with $46.6 billion in exports, a 6.1 per cent increase over the previous year.

“We welcome Canada to ride on the fast train of China’s economy,” he said, noting that the country’s gross domestic product grew by five per cent last year.

He said the two countries need to push back against American bullying.

“The United States is a hegemon that believes in the law of the jungle,” said Wang.

Cherewyk said Pulse Canada is fully onboard with the concept of China being a huge opportunity.

“It has been one of our most important markets for yellow peas since the mid-1990s,” he said.

Shipments to that market have averaged about 1.5 million tonnes per year over the past five years.

However, Canada is suddenly facing huge competition from Black Sea peas in that market, which is why Cherewyk has travelled to China five times since November 2023.

Canada is still the preferred supplier of peas to China’s fractionation market, while Russia has usurped much of the feed pea business.

Cherewyk said there is strong alignment with the Chinese government in working on expanding the domestic market for pea protein that is processed in the country’s northeastern region.

He believes that alignment might help provide a path forward once negotiations between the two countries begin in earnest.

“It isn’t just about the tariffs and the tariff barriers; there is an opportunity for us to talk about the future,” he said.

Tags: tariff, yellow peas, seafood products, China, pork, Canada, canola oil