Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is unlikely to push for a break in the political deadlock between Beijing and Ottawa, despite their shared trade frictions with Washington under US President Donald Trump, according to analysts.
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The assessment came as Carney, a former central banker, and his Liberal Party fended off challenges from the Conservative Party and declared victory in Canada’s federal election early on Tuesday.
The election drew intense international attention after Trump launched a tariff attack against Canada and threatened to make America’s northern neighbour the 51st state.
Trump’s tariff war has enraged US allies and trading partners, including Canada and China – both of which have responded with retaliatory tariffs.
But analysts said that despite Canada’s recent frictions with its long-time ally, a quick thaw in relations between Ottawa and Beijing was unlikely due to the former’s deep doubts about China – a country Carney named as his nation’s biggest security threat during a debate earlier this month.
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Jeremy Paltiel, a professor of political science at Carleton University in Ottawa, said that “any Canadian government would like to stabilise relations” with China.