This Weekend, during a visit from Japanese PM Shinzo Abe, China was top of mind for Canada PM Justin Trudeau. The two met regarding further business relations of the respective countries. Indeed respective PM of each country met to discuss Canada Japan Trade.
It was a golden chance to establish strong trade relationship between Japan & Canada but Trudeau was focusing somewhere else.
While being in talks with Abe, Trudeau spoke out the diplomatic relationship between “Canada & China”. But, later on, he quickly corrected himself. Not just that, after sometime Canadian PM accidentally referred to Japan as China.
Talking about trade, China just cancelled canola import from Canada. They claimed the Canadian product contaminated. China buys around 40% of Canada’s canola export. Therefore, it blows the canola farmer of Canada.
Both Japanese and Canadians face detention & jail in China. Abe and Trudeau discussed selling some canola to Japan. Thus the talks were all about Canada Japan trade relationship. According to Trudeau, both countries engage with China economically. Thus both have to be wary of China’s attempt.
Canada Japan Trade – Convincing China:
Abe talking softer approach said Japan agrees with Canada in respect of human rights and rule of law. But, trying to foster international ties with China is also important. Remarkably, he was quite frank about the challenges.
Through a translator, he said, “Canada and Japan are facing challenges when it comes to China. The global community must unite and convince China to play a constructive role.”
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Taking the countries like the US and China in consideration it’s actually an increasingly hard goal. These two countries test the rule-based system such as the World Trade Organisation. Particularly, the leader of both countries doesn’t pay heed to rules.
Trudeau acknowledged, “Obviously with issues like the rise of China and the approach that the United States has taken recently, there are real challenges.”
During the meeting, Trudeau & Abe extensively hailed the benefits of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the new trade deal for 11 Pacific Rim nations. Notably, the US backed out of the deal at last minute.
Canada Contrasting US:
Trudeau said increasing beef and pork exports to Japan benefited Canada thus Canada “stands in stark contrast,” to the approach of the US.
Japan PM Abe met Trump in Washington before visiting Ottawa. Abe said, “I think that we share the same position, but we should co-operate together so that the United States will be encouraged to be the leader of the liberal free world and we will co-operate with Canada.”
Shinzo Abe also went to Europe and urged EU & British lawmakers to avoid no-deal Brexit.
In June, Japan will host the G20 summit. Also, In August, Abe and Trudeau will meet again at the G7 gathering in France.
Noticeably, both the Canada PM & Japan PM signed two memorandums. This includes more investment in AI & robotics between two countries.
