China says it wants to partner with Canada to push back against American ’bullying’

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“The causes of Chinese tariffs are very clear and the merits of this case are also very clear,” he said.

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“We should give the driver’s seat to market principles and rules in China-Canada bilateral trade, instead of allowing our practical co-operation to be hijacked by any ideological biases.”

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Wang said China knows its tariffs are affecting Western Canada more than other regions, though he suggested this was not by design. He said Beijing sees numerous opportunities with western provinces, noting he spoke recently with Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe.

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“To some extent, we are neighbours that have been separated by the Pacific Ocean,” Wang said.

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The international cargo firm Vortexa reports that China imported a record amount of Canadian crude last month, thanks to the Trans Mountain pipeline and a collapse in Chinese imports of U.S. oil.

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“We are sincere in being ready to share the opportunities brought by China’s high-quality development,” Wang said.

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The ambassador said he’s been in touch with various federal bureaucrats in Canada about forming some sort of partnership. He said both countries stand to lose economically if the United Nations and World Trade Organization unravel.

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“Both Canada and China have shouldered our international and historical responsibilities,” he said.

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“China is ready to take this opportunity to work with Canada and all the other countries to firmly uphold the UN-centred international system and the WTO-centred multilateral trading regime, to (oppose) any regressive practices in the world.”

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He called Trump’s threats to annex other countries and infringe on Canadian sovereignty “typical hegemonic and bullying actions.”

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Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a similar message during a recent tour of southeast Asian nations, who face some of the highest U.S. tariffs.

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The U.S. recently proposed trade deals with various countries that pledge to reduce trade with China, prompting Beijing to threaten “countermeasures.” China convened an informal meeting at the UN Security Council on Wednesday and invited all member states to speak out against U.S. coercion.

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It all amounts to “diplomatic bargain-hunting,” said Paris, a former foreign policy adviser to former prime minister Justin Trudeau.

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“It’s a fairly transparent attempt to curry favour with countries that are feeling alienated from the United States,” he said.

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It’s not clear whether that message will resonate with Ottawa. During the federal party leaders’ English election debate, Liberal Leader Mark Carney described Beijing as “the biggest security threat to Canada.”

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A day later, he said China has been supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, is “an emerging threat to the Arctic” and is “one of the largest threats with respect to foreign interference.”

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Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has long described Beijing as an autocracy that disrupts the world order and his platform promises to “maintain tariffs on strategic Chinese imports to protect our national security and Canadian workers.”

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Canadian officials have continued to report Chinese campaigns of interference in Canadian politics, reports that Beijing argues are not based on clear evidence. China also rejects claims it’s supporting Russia or seeking to destabilize the Arctic.

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China has told Ottawa since January 2024 that while it wants to reset relations on the basis of common interests, it wants Canada to accept responsibility for the stresses in the bilateral relationship.