Carney to meet with Xi Jinping, after US negotiations screech to a halt

As trade talks with the United States collapse, Carney is set to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the APEC summit in South Korea this week, signaling Canada’s pivot to new economic partners.

Source: X

As trade talks with the United States collapse, Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the APEC summit in South Korea this week, signaling Canada’s pivot to new economic partners.

Carney told reporters at the ASEAN summit in Malaysia that while a formal bilateral meeting with Xi has not been scheduled, he anticipates a “corridor-style” discussion with the Chinese leader during the APEC forum Friday and Saturday.

“I expect we’ll have an opportunity to speak,” Carney said. “We’ll approach it, as always, with clarity and pragmatism.”

The potential meeting comes days after U.S. President Donald Trump abruptly terminated trade negotiations with Canada, and pledged a 10 per cent increase on tariffs over an Ontario government-funded Ronald Reagan-themed anti-tariff ad campaign.

Carney declined to comment directly on the controversy but emphasized his government remains committed to broadening Canada’s global economic relationships in response to growing uncertainty with the United States.

“Canadians expect us to defend their interests while expanding our opportunities,” he said, reiterating his government’s goal of reducing reliance on the U.S. market and doubling Canadian exports to non-U.S. countries over the next decade.

Carney would not confirm if contentious topics such as human rights or foreign interference would be raised with Xi, but maintained any discussion would be “guided by principle” and focused on economic opportunity.

The prime minister also faced questions about retaliatory options in response to Trump’s 25 per cent tariff on Canadian auto exports. He said his government continues to evaluate all scenarios but would not speculate on next steps. “We’re preparing for all scenarios,” Carney said.

The shift in tone from Washington has raised urgency for Ottawa to pursue alternatives in the Indo-Pacific region.

China maintains a 75.8 per cent tariff on Canadian canola, a $5 billion Canadian industry. Thus far, Beijing has pivoted to Australia for canola needs, citing Canada’s 100 per cent EV tariff as a key justification for the measure.

In response, western premiers, who host the bulk of the Canadian canola industry, have called on Ottawa to drop the EV tariff.

Carney is expected to return to Canada later this week to continue pre-budget consultations ahead of the November 4 federal budget.