Canada held its federal election on April 28.
The ruling Liberal Party won 169 seats, up by 17, and leaving it just short of the 172 seats needed for a majority. The Conservatives won 144 seats, an increase of 24, but their leader Pierre Poilevre, who before ‘Hurricane Trump’ struck Canada could have pretty confidently looked forward to leading the next government, lost his seat.
The nationalist Bloc Québécois took 33 seats, a loss of 11. The social democratic New Democratic Party (NDP) won just seven seats, a loss of 17, with party leader Jagmeet Singh not only losing his seat but coming third in his riding (as electoral districts are termed in Canada). The Greens lost one of their two seats, with co-leader Jonathan Pedneault becoming the third party leader to lose his place in the federal parliament.
The Marxist-Leninist Party of Canada (MLPC) fielded 35 candidates and the Communist Party of Canada (CPC) fielded 24. MLPC is the registered name for electoral purposes of the Communist Party of Canada (Marxist-Leninist) (CPCML). No other left parties stood candidates.
As a result of this election, Mark Carney has now received his own mandate to serve as Prime Minister. The former Goldman Sachs banker, who went on to become Governor of the Reserve Bank of Canada and then the Bank of England, but who was completely lacking in previous political experience, was shoe-horned into the leadership of the Liberal Party, and hence the office of Prime Minister, after the unpopular and arrogant Justin Trudeau was forced to resign.
As indicated above, the fortunes of the Liberal Party had reached a nadir, leaving the Conservatives confident of a return to office. The Liberals’ change in fortunes came in part from the transition from Trudeau to Carney, but more especially from Donald Trump’s punitive ‘tariff wars’ and his insulting, boorish and aggressive threats to annex Canada, which have stirred a patriotic reaction from the ice hockey rink to the ballot box.
Carney skillfully rode this patriotic wave, with strong rhetoric that appeared to stand up to Trump, whilst Poilevre struggled in vain to shed his previous whole-hearted embrace of MAGA and of his own designation as the ‘Canadian Trump’. It was also this political polarisation and perceived national crisis that squeezed the votes of smaller parties, with many Bloc Québécois, NDP and Green voters doubtless holding their noses while they lent their vote to the Liberals.
Asked to comment on the result at the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s regular Beijing press conference the next day, spokesperson Guo Jiakun said that China is willing to develop its relations with Canada based on mutual respect, equality and mutual benefits. Asked to comment on Carney’s victory and bilateral relations, he said that China has noted relevant reports, and that China’s position on its relations with Canada has been consistent and clear.
The perfunctory tone of Guo’s remarks, devoid of even the most formal diplomatic expression of congratulations, indicates that the once relatively warm relations between Ottawa and Beijing, for now at least, remain decidedly chilly. This is consistent with Carney’s continued hostile rhetoric towards China, even as he strikes a pose of defending Canadian sovereignty from US threats. At the same time, Guo makes clear that China is open to better relations, but that the ball is firmly in Canada’s court.
In the build up to the elections, TML In The News, an online publication of CPC(ML), carried an article by Peggy Morton, “setting the record straight about Canada’s trading relations with China” and citing it as an “example of how a Carney government will manage the economy”.
Peggy begins by explaining that, “Following the lead of then-US President Joe Biden’s administration which imposed 100 per cent tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles in August 2024, the federal government under Justin Trudeau announced in September 2024 that the following month it would impose an import tax of 100 per cent on electric vehicles (EVs) produced in China… Note that Donald Trump had yet to enter the picture with his tariff wars. Nonetheless, paying no attention to World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules which govern the trading relations between trading nations around the world, Canada accused China of ‘distorting global trade’ by exporting EVs at ‘unfairly low prices’ and imposed its draconian tariffs.”
China did not respond with tariffs of its own until March 2025, when, following an investigation, it announced that it would impose a 100 per cent tariff on Canadian canola oil and canola meal and peas, along with 25 per cent tariffs on pork, fish and seafood, as of March 20.
Prime Minister Carney responded that: “The Government of Canada is deeply disappointed by this decision, which will hurt Canadian farmers, harvesters and businesses, and will raise prices and diminish choice for Chinese customers, as well as in the agriculture, fish and seafood, retail, restaurant, and food-preparation industries.”
As Peggy observes, there is no mention whatsoever that it is Canada which has been waging a trade war with China and that this is despite the fact that China is Canada’s second largest trading partner after the US and that Carney says he will turn Canada towards Asia and Europe to end dependency on the US. However, responding to a Chinese call to boost trade, Carney said: “There are partners in Asia that we can build deeper ties [with] … but the partners in Asia that share our values don’t include China.”
Peggy notes that, “The facts on the ground, not coloured by the anti-China vitriol of the government, establishment media, cartel parties, political police and conspiracy theorists, reveal what these values are and who they serve. When looking at these facts it is also clear that the problems Canadian farmers face are not created by China.”
To substantiate this, she provides a breakdown of a March 24 statement from Canada’s National Farmers Union (NFU).
The NFU explain: “Many popular and influential media stories imply this tariff applies to all canola, when in fact it affects only China’s imports of canola oil and meal, not their canola seed imports… When farmers sell canola at the elevator, they are paid for the bulk commodity: it is the processor that sells the crush products – oil and meal – and the end-user would pay the tariff or else buy an alternative product.
“In contrast, the USA is threatening a 25 per cent tariff on all imports – including canola oil, meal and seed. This would affect over $5.6 billion worth of canola oil sourced from Canada in 2024, exponentially higher than China’s $20 million-worth.”
In the face of these facts, Canada’s hostile approach to trade with China makes Canadian farmers even more reliant on the US market and the whims of the Trump administration. Canada’s selective adherence to the WTO rules governing trade when it comes to China, let alone its rejection of norms which would favour a sovereign Canada by conducting trade for mutual benefit, are also indicative of the “values” Canada says it espouses.
The NFU points out that “six multinational corporations, Cargill, Louis Dreyfus, Richardson, ADM, Bunge and Viterra, own Canada’s canola crushing facilities, and four of them – Cargill, Richardson, Bunge and Viterra – also buy canola from farmers at the country elevator.
“The biggest impact on farmers of the Chinese tariff situation may not be lost sales to China, but increased profiteering by the vertically integrated grain and oilseed processing multinationals. Alarmist news stories over China’s retaliatory tariffs can easily be used to excuse low prices,” the NFU concludes.
The following articles were originally published by the Xinhua News Agency and TML In The News.
China to develop ties with Canada based on equality, mutual benefits
BEIJING, April 29 (Xinhua) — China is willing to develop its relations with Canada based on mutual respect, equality and mutual benefits, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Mark Carney’s Liberal Party won Monday’s parliamentary elections in Canada, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported.
When asked to comment on Carney’s victory and bilateral relations, spokesperson Guo Jiakun told a regular press briefing that China has noted relevant reports, and that China’s position on its relations with Canada has been consistent and clear.
“China is willing to develop its relations with Canada on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefits,” he noted.
Setting the Record Straight About Canada’s Trading Relations with China
Following the lead of then-U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration which imposed 100 per cent tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles in August 2024, the federal government under Justin Trudeau announced in September 2024 that the following month it would impose an import tax of 100 per cent on electric vehicles (EVs) produced in China. As part of the same package, Canada put a 25 per cent surtax on steel and aluminum products from China.
Note that Donald Trump had yet to enter the picture with his tariff wars. Nonetheless, paying no attention to World Trade Organization (WTO) rules which govern the trading relations between trading nations around the world, Canada accused China of “distorting global trade” by exporting EVs at “unfairly low prices” and imposed its draconian tariffs.
China did not respond with tariffs of its own until March, 2025. On March 8, China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) announced that China’s State Council Tariff Commission had conducted an anti-discrimination investigation regarding trade relations with Canada. As a consequence of its investigation, it would impose a 100 per cent tariff on Canadian canola oil and canola meal and peas, along with 25 per cent tariffs on pork, fish and seafood, as of March 20, 2025.
“Tariffs from the State Council Tariff Commission resulting from the anti-discrimination investigation are separate and distinct from China’s anti-dumping investigation into imports of Canadian canola seed which is ongoing,” MOFCOM pointed out.
In response, Mark Carney, in his capacity as Prime Minister of Canada, called the response by China “devastating” and issued the following statement:
“The Government of Canada is deeply disappointed by this decision, which will hurt Canadian farmers, harvesters and businesses, and will raise prices and diminish choice for Chinese customers, as well as in the agriculture, fish and seafood, retail, restaurant, and food-preparation industries.”
No mention whatsoever that it is Canada which has been waging a trade war with China. This is despite the fact that China is Canada’s second largest trading partner after the U.S. and that Carney says he will turn Canada towards Asia and Europe to end dependency on the U.S.[1]
“We want to diversify with like-minded partners. That’s why I went to Europe…There are partners in Asia that we can build deeper ties [with],” Carney has said, adding that this refers to countries that “share our values.”
“There are partners in Asia that we can build deeper ties [with] … but the partners in Asia that share our values don’t include China,” Carney said at a press conference when asked about comments of China’s representative to Canada about boosting trade.
The facts on the ground, not coloured by the anti-China vitriol of the government, establishment media, cartel parties, political police and conspiracy theorists, reveal what these values are and who they serve. When looking at these facts it is also clear that the problems Canadian farmers face are not created by China.
The National Farmers Union (NFU) presented the facts in a non-inflammatory way in a March 24 statement. The NFU explained that the measures taken by the Chinese government were in fact quite selective, and were leveled not against canola seed, but processed canola oil and meal.[2]
“Headlines about China’s tariff on canola are raising alarm and concern among farmers. Many popular and influential media stories imply this tariff applies to all canola, when in fact it affects only China’s imports of canola oil and meal, not their canola seed imports. These stories highlight the tariff rate (100 per cent), but not the fact that it would affect only the portion of total canola produced which is crushed for export to China,” the NFU pointed out.
Speaking concretely about the effect of these tariffs on Canadian farmers, the NFU explained further:
“When farmers sell canola at the elevator, they are paid for the bulk commodity: it is the processor that sells the crush products — oil and meal — and the end-user would pay the tariff or else buy an alternative product.”
“In contrast, the USA is threatening a 25 per cent tariff on all imports — including canola oil, meal and seed. This would affect over $5.6 billion worth of canola oil sourced from Canada in 2024, exponentially higher than China’s $20 million-worth. Similarly, in 2024, U.S. imports of Canadian canola meal were $1.8 billion, about twice the value of China’s $CDN 918 million.”
“The USA, unprovoked by Canada, and supposedly a partner in the CUSMA trade agreements, is threatening to put a 25 per cent tariff on all of the Canadian canola it imports – seed, oil and meal– effective April 2, 2025. The total value of canola seed, oil and meal exported to the USA in 2024 was $7.7 billion, including just $237 million worth of bulk commodity canola. The tariff on that amount of sales would add $1.925 billion to U.S. tax revenues (paid by the importer) – more than double the value of China’s retaliatory tariffs.”
In the face of these facts, Canada’s hostile approach to trade with China makes Canadian farmers even more reliant on the U.S. market and whims of the Trump administration. Canada’s selective adherence to the WTO rules governing trade when it comes to China, let alone its rejection of norms which would favour a sovereign Canada by conducting trade for mutual benefit, are also indicative of the “values” Canada says it espouses.
“In 2024 the total value of Canada’s canola oil and meal exports to China was $938 million,” the NFU’s article pointed out. “China is willing to negotiate removal or reduction of its tariff. However, while this tariff on oil and meal is in effect, China will likely find other sources for these products, such as Australia, or possibly import more Canadian bulk canola to crush,” the NFU adds.
Canola is now the largest cash crop for Canadian farmers. Ownership of processing facilities and elevators is highly concentrated in supranational monopolies which operate as cartels and coalitions to achieve narrow private aims. It means they use their power to depress prices paid to the farmers. Governments intervene to serve these oligopolies, not Canadian farmers.
The NFU points out that “six multinational corporations, Cargill, Louis Dreyfus, Richardson, ADM, Bunge and Viterra, own Canada’s canola crushing facilities, and four of them — Cargill, Richardson, Bunge and Viterra also buy canola from farmers at the country elevator.”
“The biggest impact on farmers of the Chinese tariff situation may not be lost sales to China, but increased profiteering by the vertically integrated grain and oilseed processing multinationals. Alarmist news stories over China’s retaliatory tariffs can easily be used to excuse low prices,” the NFU concludes.
The example of how a Carney government will pursue trade with China shows that his talk about diversifying trade is very self-serving. Canada requires a self-reliant economy which carries out trade for mutual benefit.
Far from permitting the Canadian ruling class to manoeuvre a Carney majority government and declare it has a mandate from the people of Canada, Canadians deserve the “thoughtful” leadership not of a Mark Carney who acts on behalf of supranational oligopolies, but the reasoned arguments of the likes of the National Farmer’s Union which addresses the concrete situation farmers live and proposes solutions. At no time does it represent the demands of the oligopolies which have long since seized Canada’s state power.
Note
1. China is Canada’s second-largest trading partner and a major investor in Canada’s resource industries. Canada exported approximately $29.8 billion worth of goods to China and imported goods worth around $87.6 billion in 2024.
Agricultural products include canola, wheat, barley, peas, pork from the prairies and seafood from BC and Nova Scotia. Along with other meat products including chicken feet, together these account for more than 20 per cent of all exports to China. Coal and crude oil make up around 13 per cent of exports followed by ores, including gold, and wood pulp.
Agricultural products total $6.5 billion; followed by coal and crude oil and products at $4 billion; ores, slag and ash at $3.7 billion, and wood pulp and paper at $2.3 billion.
Manufactured products comprise the largest category of goods Canada imports from China. Canada’s largest imports from China are electrical and electronic equipment including computers, followed by machinery, with vehicle parts and accessories third in 2024. Significant imports include footwear, toys, games, sporting goods, telephones, computers, furniture, lighting signs, and prefabricated buildings.
