Canada and China announce free trade talks

“We’ve agreed to launch exploratory talks towards a potential free-trade agreement between Canada and China”, Trudeau said at a joint news conference with visiting Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang landed in Ottawa late Wednesday, September 21, to meet with his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau and press for an extradition treaty.

“We’ve found a predictable, science-based and stable solution to ensure access to the Chinese market by Canadian canola exporters through early 2020”, Trudeau said.

“Following the talks we had in Ottawa, it was very clear that Romania can support EU’s trade agreement with Canada, but some things need to be clarified before that, including this issue related to visas, and Prime Minister Trudeau assured me that he would soon come up with a proposal in this sense, which I hope will be acceptable to us”. The poll revealed that 46 percent of Canadians would support the agreement, which is 10 percent more than in 2014.

“We will not extradite into situations of capital punishment, be it with the United States or any other country around the world”, Mr Trudeau said.

“Frequent changes in government create instability in bilateral ties”, Li Haidong said, adding that Trudeau’s positive attitude toward China would promote cooperation.

In his new role with the Liberal government, Jean was in Beijing last week for the start of a new “high level dialogue” between Canada and China on national security and the rule of law-talks that include breaking ground on an extradition treaty.

Li’s visit to Canada this week, which so quickly follows Trudeau’s first official visit to China, suggests the connection between both countries’ leadership is quickly becoming stronger. Two major human rights organizations, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, questioned Canada’s pursuit of an extradition deal, saying it doesn’t square with China’s rights record, including its widespread use of the death penalty.

China is Canada’s second biggest trading partner, worth around $50 billion.

$2 billion – Value of Canadian canola seed exported to China in 2015.

Both leaders held a 90-minute meeting that was packed with officials from both countries, including several Canadian cabinet ministers.

“We are going to continue to have frank, honest discussions about the things that matter to our people and to the global community at large”, Trudeau said.

“The key is how to handle these differences”, he said.

Li and Trudeau appeared at ease with each other.

Canadian Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau and Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China Li Keqiang attends a welcoming ceremony with military honours in Ottawa on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016.

Both will reimburse the government for miscellaneous moving expenses, a total of $23,373 for Telford and $20,299 for Butts.