New Report Argues Bold Leadership, Focused Strategy Needed to Advance Canada-Asia Relations

The Canadian Council of Chief Executives (CCCE) and the Canada China Business Council (CCBC) released a report entitled ”Canada, China, and Rising Asia: A Strategic Proposal,” authored by Dr. Wendy Dobson, Professor at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management and Senior Fellow of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada. The report argues that it is time to move beyond ad hoc arrangements by developing both closer ties with Asia and a stronger Canada ‘brand’ based on ambitious targets for trade and investment. The report notes that Asia’s rise “is transforming the world’s economic and geopolitical landscape” at a pace unprecedented in human history. For the most part, however, Canada is poorly positioned to take advantage of these trends. The report outlines two approaches that would be “potential game changers” in enhancing Canada’s ties with Asia: Canada could seek to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a proposed regional trade agreement. Alternatively, or in conjunction with that approach, Canada could pursue deeper economic ties with China. To read the full report, click here.