Opinion | Why China-Canada trade and global cooperation are now ripe for progress

Against this backdrop, Canada’s policy community broadly and Prime Minister Mark Carney specifically have begun to look for alternatives should Canada’s traditional ally and primary trading partner continue to be unreliable.

This re-examination, however, is more than a tactical pivot. Carney has described the US-Canada relationship as “multifaceted” and “much deeper, much broader” than Canada’s relations with China. But he said China and Canada have had a “candid and … frank dialogue” that leads to a “more predictable and effective relationship”.

WATCH: Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Canadian PM Mark Carney

WATCH: Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Canadian PM Mark Carney

Such a view aligns with recent shifts in Canadian public opinion. Although overall favourability towards China remains low, support for placing greater emphasis on economic relations with China has risen as the US is increasingly seen to be an erratic and sometimes worrying partner.