China, Canada to continue FTA talks

Xinhua

China and Canada on Wednesday pledged to press ahead with negotiations on free trade agreement.

The pledge came as Chinese Premier Li Keqiang held the third annual dialogue with his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau on the sidelines of a series of leaders’ meetings on East Asian cooperation in Singapore this week.

“We have noticed that Canada has made clarification on a new trade agreement reached among the United States, Mexico and Canada (USMCA), saying that the agreement will not affect Canada’s decision of FTA agreement with other countries,” Li told Trudeau.

“China stands ready to continue to promote the FTA negotiations with Canada on the basis of mutual respect and in a flexible and pragmatic way,” Li said.

Li was referring to a provision in the USMCA reached recently stipulating that if a member country wants to enter a free trade deal with a “non-market” economy, it must notify the others three months before starting negotiations, while the others can quit within six months to form their own bilateral trade pact.

Trudeau later made it clear that his country will continue to take various measures to strengthen trade relations with China.

During the annual dialogue, Trudeau told Li that Canada is willing to work with China to push forward FTA talks, adding that his country will not be influenced by other countries’ position. He said the two nations will send a positive message to the world that they will further enhance economic and trade relations and advocate free trade.

Canada is ready to intensify cooperation with China in different areas so as to bring more benefits to the people of both nations, he said.

Calling China and Canada important partner of each other, Li said this year has witnessed smooth development of bilateral ties and progresses of cooperation in various areas.

“The regular meeting between the two heads of government shows that China-Canada ties have forged ahead in a steady way,” Li said.