Forging a new “strategic partnership” with China is a long-term mistake by Prime Minister Carney. One that will undermine Canada’s national security and harm our economic partnership with the United States.

Canada has been forced to make this bargain because of the Prime Minister’s inability to secure any meaningful progress with the United States. This “deal” provides no immediate relief for our farmers, only a promise of potential future relief, if Canada behaves. China will test how we handle domestic pressure and inevitable US pushback. We can't diversify our way out of problems by handing leverage to authoritarian regimes.

Moreover, the Prime Minister must explain how he went from saying China is Canada’s greatest security threat in the election to "forging a new strategic partnership" with China, just months later.

China might be “predictable” – to use the Prime Minister’s words – but only predictable in its relentless efforts to undermine democracy and freedom around the world, including in Canada through election interference, intimidation, and the deployment of their security apparatus on Canadian soil.

Canada needs a focused and principled trade policy that prioritizes our long-term allies and doesn’t fetter away our values.