Internal docs suggest Trudeau wants China blocked from Pacific Rim trade deal
While the Liberals insist a Pacific Rim trade bloc should welcome any country that meets its standards, an internal document suggests Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wants China kept out of the deal.
Trudeau's comments stem from a call he held last fall shortly after the swearing-in of former U.K. prime minister Liz Truss, who has since been replaced by Rishi Sunak.
A Canadian diplomat in London sent Ottawa an "unofficial readout" on Sept. 11, 2022 that summarized their call, which The Canadian Press obtained through the Access to Information Act.
The document states that Truss believed America and the European Union should be part of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, also called the CPTPP, a bloc that includes Canada and will soon involve Britain.
"PMLT mused that the U.S. and EU should join CPTPP. PMJT used this opportunity to note that this is exactly why it is so important to have such a high bar for the U.K. getting into the CPTPP -- so it makes it (too) hard for China to get in. PMLT agreed," reads the internal document.
The language seemed abnormally frank to Carleton University economics professor Meredith Lilly, who served as former prime minister Stephen Harper's trade adviser.
"It is certainly unusual to see this, and I don't think that this is something that would be phrased in this way in public dialogue," she said.
Canada has insisted that it has no stance on whether China should be able to join the trade bloc, instead saying that any country can be admitted if it meets criteria set by members of the group, including unionization rights and environmental targets.
Canada's Trade Minister Mary Ng repeated that message when asked directly about Chinese membership in the group last Friday.
"CPTPP is a consensus partnership among all of the trading partners. And we're going to have to work through how we treat the accession requests," she told a conference held by the Canadian Global Affairs Institute.
"Compliance and enforceability around environmental standards, standards for labour, the inclusive nature of it, a track record of being a trading partner that is in compliance with the rules -- those are the kinds of things that (we) have in the conversation."
China applied to enter the trading bloc in September 2021, and could only join with the support of all members in the group. Lilly said Canada is one of the leading voices in CPTPP membership by virtue of being one of the largest economies in the group, along with Japan and Australia.
Australia's Trade Minister Don Farrell said last fall that "I don't believe there's any prospect that China could join," given that Beijing tends to block trade for political reasons. Lilly said she hasn't seen Canada take a similar public stance.
"It's quite important for CPTPP to maintain its open architecture," she said. "But the barriers to entry should be extremely high, in such a fashion that it's quite unlikely that a country like China would qualify."
Lilly said that's because Beijing is unlikely to entertain a series of reforms it would need to undertake. She said that likely includes issues surrounding state-owned enterprises, market access and currency provisions.
"Admission can't just be based on a promise to be better in future, precisely because China in particular has in the past undertaken certain commitments and then has failed to uphold those," she said.
"It's important to stick to rules and ambitious standards, because it does always create the opportunity for a country to change in the future, so it's not just a dogmatic decision that a certain country isn't permitted."
The Chinese Embassy in Ottawa said it has noticed growing interest among Canadian experts in China joining the bloc, noting it would triple its consumer base and give Canada "tremendous" opportunities. The delegation says it's "in close contact" with Ottawaabout membership in the deal.
"China's application to join the CPTPP is one of the major moves to further expand its opening up," a provided statement said.
"It conforms to the interests of China, the interests of all CPTPP members, including Canada, the interests of the Asia-Pacific region, and the interests of the recovery of the global economy."
Lilly also noted that most members in the bloc are smaller economies that have stronger economic ties with Beijing, and many don't want to be seen to be taking a side in the escalating rivalry between the U.S. and China.
Taiwan, a democratic self-governing island China claims as part of its own territory, separately applied to join the trade bloc around the same time as Beijing, and many countries are keeping silent on the merits of either entering the bloc.
Further, she said not having either Washington or Beijing in the bloc gives smaller economies more opportunities to advance their own interests.
In a statement, Global Affairs Canada said CPTPP membership is contingent on countries supporting open markets and high regulatory standards.
"Canada's position on any economy aspiring to accede will always be guided by the best interests and values of Canadians workers and businesses," spokeswoman Charlotte MacLeod wrote in a statement.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 6, 2023.
-- With files from Mia Rabson.
IN DEPTH
Budget 2024 prioritizes housing while taxing highest earners, deficit projected at $39.8B
In an effort to level the playing field for young people, in the 2024 federal budget, the government is targeting Canada's highest earners with new taxes in order to help offset billions in new spending to enhance the country's housing supply and social supports.
'One of the greatest': Former prime minister Brian Mulroney commemorated at state funeral
Prominent Canadians, political leaders, and family members remembered former prime minister and Progressive Conservative titan Brian Mulroney as an ambitious and compassionate nation-builder at his state funeral on Saturday.
'Democracy requires constant vigilance' Trudeau testifies at inquiry into foreign election interference in Canada
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau testified Wednesday before the national public inquiry into foreign interference in Canada's electoral processes, following a day of testimony from top cabinet ministers about allegations of meddling in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections. Recap all the prime minister had to say.
As Poilievre sides with Smith on trans restrictions, former Conservative candidate says he's 'playing with fire'
Siding with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on her proposed restrictions on transgender youth, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre confirmed Wednesday that he is against trans and non-binary minors using puberty blockers.
Supports for passengers, farmers, artists: 7 bills from MPs and Senators to watch in 2024
When parliamentarians return to Ottawa in a few weeks to kick off the 2024 sitting, there are a few bills from MPs and senators that will be worth keeping an eye on, from a 'gutted' proposal to offer a carbon tax break to farmers, to an initiative aimed at improving Canada's DNA data bank.
Opinion
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
opinion Don Martin: The doctor Trudeau dumped has a prescription for better health care
Political columnist Don Martin sat down with former federal health minister Jane Philpott, who's on a crusade to help fix Canada's broken health care system, and who declined to take any shots at the prime minister who dumped her from caucus.
opinion Don Martin: Trudeau's seeking shelter from the housing storm he helped create
While Justin Trudeau's recent housing announcements are generally drawing praise from experts, political columnist Don Martin argues there shouldn’t be any standing ovations for a prime minister who helped caused the problem in the first place.
opinion Don Martin: Poilievre has the field to himself as he races across the country to big crowds
It came to pass on Thursday evening that the confidentially predictable failure of the Official Opposition non-confidence motion went down with 204 Liberal, BQ and NDP nays to 116 Conservative yeas. But forcing Canada into a federal election campaign was never the point.
opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike
When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Local Spotlight
Mystery surrounds giant custom Canucks jerseys worn by Lions Gate Bridge statues
The giant stone statues guarding the Lions Gate Bridge have been dressed in custom Vancouver Canucks jerseys as the NHL playoffs get underway.
'I'm committed': Oilers fan won't cut hair until Stanley Cup comes to Edmonton
A local Oilers fan is hoping to see his team cut through the postseason, so he can cut his hair.
'It's not my father's body!' Wrong man sent home after death on family vacation in Cuba
A family from Laval, Que. is looking for answers... and their father's body. He died on vacation in Cuba and authorities sent someone else's body back to Canada.
'Once is too many times': Education assistants facing rising violence in classrooms
A former educational assistant is calling attention to the rising violence in Alberta's classrooms.
What is capital gains tax? How is it going to affect the economy and the younger generations?
The federal government says its plan to increase taxes on capital gains is aimed at wealthy Canadians to achieve “tax fairness.”
UBC football star turning heads in lead up to NFL draft
At 6'8" and 350 pounds, there is nothing typical about UBC offensive lineman Giovanni Manu, who was born in Tonga and went to high school in Pitt Meadows.
Cat found at Pearson airport 3 days after going missing
Kevin the cat has been reunited with his family after enduring a harrowing three-day ordeal while lost at Toronto Pearson International Airport earlier this week.
Molly on a mission: N.S. student collecting books about women in sport for school library
Molly Knight, a Grade 4 student in Nova Scotia, noticed her school library did not have many books on female athletes, so she started her own book drive in hopes of changing that.
Where did the gold go? Crime expert weighs in on unfolding Pearson airport heist investigation
Almost 7,000 bars of pure gold were stolen from Pearson International Airport exactly one year ago during an elaborate heist, but so far only a tiny fraction of that stolen loot has been found.