Former Liberal cabinet minister Chrystia Freeland is warning that Canada should approach China with skepticism, arguing that Beijing’s record on human rights and rule of law raises serious doubts about its reliability as a long-term partner.
In a Feb. 25 interview with Bloomberg’s David Westin, Freeland said China is emerging as the “big winner” amid strained trade relations between Canada and the United States. While acknowledging Ottawa’s interest in diversifying trade, she cautioned against accepting Beijing’s overtures at face value.
“China presents itself as the dependable partner, especially to middle powers like Canada,” Freeland said. “But we need to be cautious about what those commitments really mean.”
Her remarks come as Prime Minister Mark Carney has been working to expand economic cooperation with China. During a January visit to Beijing, Ottawa signed several agreements, including a significant tariff adjustment on electric vehicles. Under the deal, Canada agreed to reduce tariffs on 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles from 100 percent to 6.1 percent in the first year. In exchange, China committed to lowering tariffs on certain Canadian agricultural and seafood exports.
Freeland questioned Beijing’s broader positioning on the global stage, saying China has sought to portray itself as a defender of the rules-based international order a framework historically shaped by the United States.
“My own view is that we need to be a little bit skeptical of commitments from China to uphold that order,” she said.
Freeland pointed to her tenure as foreign minister during the detention of Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor as a stark reminder of the risks involved in dealing with Beijing. The two men were held in China for more than 1,000 days following Canada’s 2018 arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou on a U.S. extradition request. International observers described their treatment as arbitrary detention, and experts later concluded it amounted to torture.
“That is not the behaviour of a reliable partner,” Freeland said, adding that she finds it troubling that some Canadians may now view Beijing as more trustworthy than Washington.
Concerns about China’s conduct were echoed earlier this month by researchers at the Montreal Institute for Global Security (MIGS). At a Feb. 17 press conference releasing a report on transnational repression, MIGS officials warned that Canada must remain vigilant as it broadens its trade relationships.
“We can’t be naive,” said Kyle Matthews, co-founder and executive director of MIGS. “China is one of the leading actors in transnational repression globally.”
Opposition Conservatives have also criticized Ottawa’s new agreements with Beijing, particularly a cooperation pact involving law enforcement. During a Feb. 5 committee meeting, Conservative MP Michael Cooper argued that China has targeted diaspora communities in Canada and failed to respect Canada’s sovereignty. He also raised concerns about China’s legal system, citing the absence of judicial independence and civilian oversight.
Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree has defended the cooperation agreement, stating that it aims to address shared concerns such as curbing the flow of fentanyl into Canada. However, details of the agreement have not been publicly released, prompting calls from Conservative MPs for greater transparency and parliamentary review.
As Canada navigates shifting geopolitical and economic realities, the debate highlights a broader tension: balancing the pursuit of new markets with safeguarding democratic values and national security.
