canada prime minister justin trudeau robotics

Trudeau (right) takes part in a robotics demonstration in Boisbriand, Quebec. Last month, Trudeau’s Liberals allowed Hong Kong-based O-Net Technologies Group Ltd to buy a Canadian technology company, which was blocked in 2015 by then-government on national security grounds. Source: Reuters

China urges Canada to relax curbs on high-tech exports – Xinhua

By | 19 April, 2017

CHINA’S Premier Li Keqiang on Tuesday pressed Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to relax curbs on high-tech exports to China and also suggested the two nations work together on clean energy, China’s official Xinhua news agency said.

Trudeau wants to boost trade with China as a way of lessening dependence on exports to the United States, especially given protectionist signs from the administration of President Donald Trump.

Canada, citing national security needs, places strict restrictions on the Canadian assets China and other nations can buy.

SEE ALSO: China to offer US better market access to avert trade war

Reporting on a phone call between the two leaders, Xinhua said, “The Chinese premier hoped Canada would relax the restrictions on high-tech exports to China, believing this would be helpful to a balanced growth of bilateral trade.”

Last month, Trudeau’s Liberals allowed Hong Kong-based O-Net Technologies Group Ltd to buy a Canadian technology company, reversing a 2015 decision by the former Conservative government to block the deal on national security grounds.

Trudeau spokesman Andree-Lyne Halle confirmed the two men had spoken and said more details would be released later.

China is looking to boost its global environmental role as Trump shows signs of pulling back from green commitments the United States made under previous President Barack Obama.

Li also told Trudeau the two nations should “strengthen cooperation on tackling climate change and cooperate in new areas such as clean energy”, according to Xinhua.

In September, during Li’s visit to Ottawa, Canada and China said they would start exploratory talks on a free trade pact. – Reuters



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