No free trade deal with China? That’s OK, much can be done until then: Barton
OTTAWA — Even without a Chinese-Canadian free trade deal, the federal government should be deepening its business relationship with the rapidly expanding Asian economy on multiple fronts, says a global expert tapped by Ottawa to help lift Canada’s lacklustre growth.
Dominic Barton, chairman of the Liberal government’s hand-picked council of economic advisers, spoke to The Canadian Press about the country’s opportunities to do more business in China — and with its emerging middle class — in the absence of a free trade agreement.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is getting ready to travel to China next week for a week-long visit that will include bilateral talks and the G20 leaders’ summit.
Although Trudeau has said he wants to expand trade with the world’s second-biggest economy, an actual free trade deal could still be years away amid concerns in Canada over human rights in China. For its part, China has repeatedly said it wants a free-trade agreement with Canada.