Canada-China Relations: 50 Years of Shifting Tides from Trudeau to Carney

• Canada, under Pierre Trudeau in 1970, was among the first Western nations to recognize communist China, establishing diplomatic ties and ending relations with Taiwan.
• Relations deteriorated significantly under Justin Trudeau, particularly after the 2018 detention of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou and China's retaliation.
• Canada banned Huawei and ZTE from its 5G networks in 2022 and expelled a Chinese diplomat in 2023 over alleged intimidation.
• A tariff war erupted in 2024, with Canada imposing tariffs on Chinese EVs, steel, and aluminum, followed by China's retaliation on Canadian agricultural products.
• Prime Minister Mark Carney is in Beijing to rebuild relations, marking a potential turning point after years of strained ties.

Why It Matters: Canada and China's 50-year relationship has seen significant shifts, from early recognition to recent tensions and a new effort to rebuild ties.