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As Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrives in Beijing, China is urging Canada to chart a foreign policy path independent of the United States, seeing an opportunity to loosen one of Washington’s longest-standing alliances.
Chinese state media has openly called on Ottawa to adopt what it terms “strategic autonomy,” arguing that recent economic and military actions by U.S. President Donald Trump have strained America’s relationships with key partners, including Canada. Beijing hopes these tensions could create space for improved China–Canada ties.
Canada has historically been one of the United States’ closest allies, but Trump’s tariffs on Canadian exports and controversial remarks — including suggesting Canada could become America’s 51st state — have unsettled relations. Carney has framed his visit to China as part of a broader strategy to diversify Canada’s trade relationships and reduce reliance on the U.S. market.
The trip also signals an attempt to revive bilateral relations with China after years of friction under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Ties deteriorated following the 2018 arrest of a Chinese technology executive at the request of U.S. authorities and worsened when Canada imposed steep tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, steel and aluminum in 2024. China retaliated with tariffs on key Canadian exports such as canola, seafood and pork.
Chinese state-run outlets have warned that Canada’s past alignment with U.S. policies toward China led to setbacks in bilateral relations and cautioned that future progress depends on Ottawa maintaining independence in its China policy. While Canadian officials expect some trade progress from Carney’s visit, they have tempered expectations, noting that a full rollback of tariffs is unlikely in the near term.
Analysts suggest potential common ground could emerge around concerns over U.S. interventionism, including Washington’s recent actions in Venezuela and statements about Greenland. However, experts also caution against overestimating the visit’s impact, noting Canada’s deep economic, security and cultural ties with the United States.
Despite China’s hopes, most observers agree that while Canada may seek to rebalance its foreign relations, it is unlikely to significantly distance itself from the U.S. in the foreseeable future.
