Canada's China Policy Will Be Decided in Washington

If Trump talks fail, Canada could look toward Beijing

- By Fen Osler Hampson

Canada’s relationship with China resembles a Rubik’s Cube, where every attempt to solve one problem scrambles the rest of the puzzle. Mark Carney, of course, has been doing his level best to court Beijing as part of a broader effort to diversify Canada’s trade partnerships and reduce its economic dependence on the U.S. This past fall, he snagged a 40-minute bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping—the first such encounter between the leaders of the two countries in eight years. Though no deals came out of the meeting, Carney accepted Xi’s invitation to visit China this year. So where do these shifting dynamics lead in 2026?