In the News

Will Carney's visit to Beijing reset Canada-China relations after turbulent decade?

Global News, January 14, 2026

Featuring Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President, Research & Strategy, APF Canada

Excerpt: Nadjibulla says the diplomatic freeze between Canada and China that started in 2017 was the "lowest period in the relationship and since then, even though there has been some improvement on the political level, when it comes to public opinion, there is still limited trust" from Canadians on co-operation with China.

"Since [Canada's] difficulties with the Trump Administration started about a year ago, we are seeing that attitudes towards China are changing," adds Nadjibulla. "Economic relations will definitely be front and centre" during this meeting, and issues on human rights will likely only be addressed "in private."

Canadian PM's China oil pitch risks blunting Trump's Venezuela strategy

Nikkei Asia, January 14, 2026

Featuring Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President, Research & Strategy, APF Canada

Excerpt: Nadjibulla says the expansion of the Trans Mountain Pipeline – a key link between Alberta's oilsands and Pacific ports – gives Canada a rare opportunity to increase shipments to Asia.

"It could potentially be mutually beneficial," she said, noting that China is also seeking new suppliers.

Carney heads to Beijing to talk trade after years of diplomatic strain with China

CBC News, January 14, 2026

Featuring Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President, Research & Strategy, APF Canada

Excerpt: "We're not going to see an immediate resolution. But we likely will see some progress or some signals in terms of where they're heading," said Nadjibulla.

Nadjibulla calls Carney's visit a milestone in Canada-China relations and a big test. The prime minister has to strategically decide what deals he's willing to make and how to manage the risks, she said.

Canada could explore the "European route," she said, and impose a variety of tariffs on specific EVs manufactured in China.

Canada, China should eye a fresh start

China Daily, January 14, 2026

Guest Contributor:  Hugh Stephens, Distinguished Fellow, APF Canada

Excerpt: "What the Carney visit can do is to reset Canada-China relations in areas where there is scope for co-operation while reserving more difficult areas for further work. Where there are irreconcilable differences, the two sides will have to agree to disagree."

"There is plenty of room to find common ground within the bilateral trade agenda, including energy, dealing with common global issues such as climate change, and exploring ways to relieve the current tariff standoff," wrote Stephens.

Stuck in the middle: Mark Carney in China

CBC - Front Burner (podcast), January 14, 2026

Featuring Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President, Research & Strategy, APF Canada

Excerpt: Nadjibulla says "given everything that's happening in Venezuela… energy will be top of the agenda" between PM Carney and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

However, she says the issue of EV tariffs is complicated, "both politically here in Canada...but it is also linked to [Canada’s] relationship with the U.S." While Nadjibulla acknowledges that these tariffs were originally aligned with the Biden Administration, she says there are critical "domestic interests" at play with provincial autoworkers.

She adds that progress in these meetings may be seen as "reduction in tariffs on both sides... a roadmap to [future] negotiations," or a model similar to the EU, which uses reduced tariffs on specific Chinese manufactures and price floors to protect its domestic market.

Prime Minister Mark Carney seeks to reset Canada-China relationship in Beijing

Canadian Press, January 14, 2026

Featuring Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President, Research & Strategy, APF Canada

Excerpt: Nadjibulla says Carney's visit to China demonstrates the PM's "pragmatic foreign policy in action."

"There is not going to be one word that can describe this relationship, but the public messaging around it needs to continue to be clear-eyed, fully recognizing the complexities of the relationship." 

FIRST READING: To escape American trade coercion, Canada woos China — the world master of trade coercion

The National Post, January 14, 2026

Featuring Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President, Research & Strategy, APF Canada

Excerpt: As Carney boarded CanForceOne for Beijing this week, analysts and other China-watchers were warning that although China has plenty of interest in buying Canadian goods, any increase in trade comes with strings attached.

“Canada must remember that China has a track record of using economic relations for political leverage,” reads a recent briefing note prepared by Nadjibulla.

In a pivot, Carney seeks to reset relationship with China, build trade ties

The Globe and Mail, January 13, 2026

Featuring Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President, Research & Strategy, APF Canada

Excerpt: While Canadian farmers are feeling the squeeze from China's agricultural tariffs, Nadjibulla say that "what’s driving Canada’s shift in relations with Beijing is not China. It’s the circumstances Canada finds itself in," namely, Ottawa's push to diversify beyond U.S. markets. 

Despite economic diversification being the name of the game, she warns that China remains a source of threats ranging from “national security, foreign interference, transnational repression, and intellectual property theft."

Canadian prime minister visits China after nearly a decade of tense relations

Reuters, January 13, 2026

Featuring Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President, Research & Strategy, APF Canada

Excerpt: Nadjibulla warns that more co-operation with China in sectors like AI and critical minerals could jeopardize Canadian security.

Carney departs for China with risks and rewards around every corner

National Post, January 13, 2026

Featuring Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President, Research & Strategy, APF Canada

Excerpt: “We cannot afford to take that bait," warned Nadjibulla when it comes to dropping EV tariffs to get relief from China's tariffs on Canadian agricultural products. 

‘A history of economic coercion’: Carney prepares for China trip, but international security expert advises caution

BNN Bloomberg, January 13, 2026

Featuring Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President, Research & Strategy, APF Canada

Excerpt: Nadjibulla called this meeting between Carney and Xi Jinping a significant test of Carney’s “pragmatic diplomacy.”

“He will have to strike a difficult balance between pursuing economic engagement with China, especially in sectors like energy, with the serious national security and economic security issues that we still have to manage when it comes to China."

While Nadjibulla says it is important that Carney engages with China pragmatically, she points out that it will be “interesting” to see how he will navigate the conversation surrounding Canada’s national and economic security.

China trip a ‘test’ for Carney, with EV tariffs the ‘elephant in the room,’ say former envoys

The Hill Times, January 13, 2026 

Featuring: Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President, Research & Strategy, APF Canada

Excerpt: According to Nadjibulla, Prime Minister Carney's trip to China "definitely signals an improvement in the relationship... [but Ottawa has] to be clear eyed that the relationship with China will remain complex.” 

Nadjibulla added the “test” for Carney will be in securing economic wins without compromising those interests. 

“China is an important economic partner, potentially, but it still represents challenges to our national security and economic security, so there is a limit to how much the relationship can improve.”

Carney Has a Lot to Lose in China

Canadaland (podcast), January 13, 2026 

Featuring: Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President, Research & Strategy, APF Canada

Excerpt: Despite being what she calls "China cautious," Nadjibulla stresses that "diplomacy matters, dialogue matters. One has to engage in that diplomacy and dialogue clear-eyed with real understanding of who we are working with in the Chinese Communist Party and what can be reasonably expected from that." 

Canada's reset with China, however, "will be harder because the Trump Administration is going back to this idea of spheres of influence... [but it is still] critical for Canada to try to pursue policies that give us as much freedom of action... autonomy... and agency as possible... [but] it requires state craft and.... diplomacy, things that we haven’t had to do before because of our privileged position" with the U.S. and European partners. 

‘A history of economic coercion’: Carney prepares for China trip, but international security expert advises caution

CTV News, January 13, 2026 

Featuring: Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President, Research & Strategy, APF Canada

Excerpt: PM Carney "will have to strike a difficult balance between pursuing economic engagement with China, especially in sectors like energy, with the serious national security and economic security that we still have to manage when it comes to China... China uses economic dependence, like in the case of canola, for political leverage.”

Nadjibulla stressed that "economic engagement" cannot be confused with "trust or with strategic alignment."

“Pragmatic engagement is fine. Diplomatic amnesia would be a mistake."

Canadian PM Carney to meet China's President Xi

BBC News, January 13, 2026

Featuring Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President, Research & Strategy, APF Canada

Excerpt: During his trip to China, Nadjibulla says "Carney will focus on economic co-operation... and trade irritants," namely the Chinese tariffs on Canadian agricultural products. 

"Prime Minister Carney has made it clear he wants to reduce over-reliance on the U.S. and double non-U.S. trade in ten years... and China is part of that diversification agenda." 

"If there were to be any movement on the EV tariffs, Washington will be watching that very closely... [they] will also pay attention to the investment Canada might be inviting from China, especially in critical sectors like ports." 

Canada’s Carney plans to talk trade, relations during China visit

Business Recorder, January 13, 2026

Featuring Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President, Research & Strategy, APF Canada

Excerpt: “Whatever agreements Canada has with China will be scrutinized in Washington and might have implications” for three-way talks with Washington and Mexico on a free trade agreement, set to be renegotiated this year, said Nadjibulla.

Carney’s challenge is “going to be to advance economic objectives while not sacrificing our national security and economic security priorities."

Canada walks diplomatic tightropes with China, India

CBC News - Power & Politics, January 12, 2026 

Featuring: Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President, Research & Strategy, APF Canada

Excerpt: Nadjibulla expertly sums up Carney's upcoming visit to China as a "difficult diplomatic tightrope to walk." 

She adds that "even if the tariffs [on Canadian agricultural products] were removed tomorrow... our goal should be to diversify and not be so dependent on a market that uses dependence for political leverage... China uses economic leverage and coercion to try to influence political decisions." 

When asked about some Liberal MPs cutting their visits to Taiwan short ahead of Carney's visit to China to not 'create confusion' on foreign policy, Nadjibulla affirms that Ottawa should "be able to do more than one thing at a time. We can try to stabilize our relationship with China, but at the same time continue the deep cultural and economic relationships with Taiwan... It's a difficult time to be a democracy, and we should stand in solidarity with Taiwan." 

This will be the real test of Mark Carney’s visit to China

The Globe and Mail, January 12, 2026

Guest Contributor: Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President, Research & Strategy, APF Canada

Excerpt: In a new op-ed by Vina Nadjibulla, published by The Globe and Mail, she frames her predictions for Prime Minister Carney's upcoming visit to China and the effectiveness of pragmatic diplomacy.

"From Ottawa’s perspective, the objectives are clear and pragmatic: explore trade and investment opportunities, and ease trade frictions, especially China’s tariffs on Canadian canola, pork and seafood... To do so, he will need to manage three things: resist Beijing’s pressure for political compliance, keep economic security and resilience front and centre, and strengthen national security guardrails."

Carney to visit China this wek to rebuild ties

CTV, January 12, 2026 

Featuring: Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President, Research & Strategy, APF Canada

Excerpt: This meeting with China is both an important but difficult one, says Nadjibulla, as China has "a history of economic coercion... for political leverage." 

"So while it's important to engage with [China] pragmatically and dialogue matters, it will be really interesting to see what kind of language the prime minister uses to show evidence of that Canada still sees China with clear eyes and will continue to protect our economic and national security interests." 

Canada’s Carney plans to talk trade, relations during China visit

The Strait Times, January 11, 2026 

Featuring: Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President, Research & Strategy, APF Canada

Excerpt: “Whatever agreements Canada has with China will be scrutinised in Washington and might have implications” for three-way talks with Washington and Mexico on a free trade agreement, set to be renegotiated in 2026, according to  Nadjibulla.

Carney’s challenge is “going to be to advance economic objectives while not sacrificing our national security and economic security priorities."