Alibaba Group Executive Chairman Jack Ma and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau launched Tmall Global’s newest country pavilion on Saturday at the company’s Hangzhou, China headquarters, creating a cross-border e-commerce channel that will make it easier for Chinese consumers to purchase from leading Canadian brands such as yoga apparel maker Lululemon and Clearwater Seafoods.
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“It’s hard to proceed with free trade when Canada feels the Chinese aren’t being straight with them”, said Charles Burton, associate professor at Brock University. And the reality is that we are a country that depends on trade – in fact, trade accounts for 60 per cent of our GDP, making us one of the most trade-dependent countries in the OECD.
Starting Thursday, China will only allow canola shipments containing one percent of dockage, versus the current 2.5 percent allowance.
“First and foremost, this visit is about renewing and deepening the relationship between the people of Canada and the people of China”.
It also urged Canada to look within its borders at its own reputation on the treatment of Aboriginal Peoples, some of whom live in “miserable conditions”.
An eleventh-hour deal on Wednesday to delay new, stricter rules on canola imports was a meaningful and important step for Canada, she said.
“That’s why Canada has used opportunities to express its views to China”, Saint-Jacques said.
HANGZHOU, China China must rely on reforms to help maintain a medium-to-high rate of economic growth over the long term, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Saturday, as the country undergoes structural changes, including reductions in excess factory capacity.
Investment cooperation is obviously on Trudeau’s mind, as the Canadian government is “looking very favorably” at the possibility of joining the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Trudeau said.
Trudeau’s speech also discussed the vast economic potential for both countries across numerous traditional industries like natural resources, but also in newer sectors like clean technology.
“China is Canada’s fastest-growing tourism market, already its third-largest overseas source market for tourists, and Chinese visitors contribute over $1 billion annually to Canada’s economy”.
Trudeau’s visit carries with it a bit of historic nostalgia as it was his father Pierre who was among the first Western leaders to visit China in 1973.
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Yes, in the fictional Marvel universe, just like the real world, Justin Trudeau is probably the Internet’s favorite politician.
