Chinese ambassador hopes to speed trade talks with Canada amid protectionism
TORONTO — China’s ambassador to Canada said Monday he hopes to make progress on a free-trade agreement with Canada and others amid his country’s rising trade tensions with the United States.
“On the background of unilateralism and trade protectionism, China sincerely hopes we can speed up the relevant negotiations process of bilateral…trade agreements,” Lu Shaye said, speaking through a translator, in an interview at the Apparel Textile Sourcing Canada trade show in Toronto.
U.S. President Donald Trump slapped 25 per cent tariffs on $34 billion in Chinese imports in July. Taxes on an additional $16 billion are set to kick in this week and China is counterpunching with tariffs of its own.
The U.S. government is holding six days of hearings starting Monday in Washington on Trump’s next round of proposed tariffs of 10 per cent to 25 per cent on $200 billion in Chinese goods that could kick in as early as next month.