The CUSMA deadline is July 1st. Four days from now.
CUSMA is the trade agreement covering 85 percent of Canadian exports to the United States. Months of negotiations. The most important economic file in the country. And when Mark Carney had Donald Trump in the room at the G7 two weeks ago, a hot mic caught him explaining the China EV deal. CUSMA did not come up.
This week, with that deadline four days away, BC Premier David Eby got on a plane to Beijing.
Eby left June 27th for Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou on what his office is calling BC's first ever provincial trade mission to China. His office did not proactively disclose who he would be meeting, citing commercial sensitivities. Reporters at his press conference were limited to one question and one follow up.
Compare that to May, when Trump visited China. His full itinerary was disclosed to media in advance.
The biggest target on Eby's trip is PetroChina, a state owned Chinese energy company, to discuss LNG Canada Phase 2 in Kitimat. That project represents $28 billion in BC provincial revenue. China is BC's second largest trading partner. Eby's stated goal is doubling BC trade to non-US markets within ten years.
His own words: "We're seeking to reduce our reliance on the United States. China will be part of that."
US tariffs are hurting BC workers in forestry, seafood and energy. China is the second largest economy in the world. Diversifying makes strategic sense and the math on LNG Canada Phase 2 is hard to argue with.
The problem is not the strategy. The problem is the gap between the public messaging and what is actually happening.
Carney spent the G7 declaring a new world order built around Europe and Canadian sovereignty. The same week his BC Premier was in Beijing cutting energy deals with a state owned Chinese company behind a one question press conference. Eby cut the trip short to fly back and sign an MOU with Carney on BC infrastructure projects on July 2nd.
Both tracks can be right at the same time. Canada can pursue CUSMA and diversify toward China simultaneously. That is not a contradiction. But Canadians deserve to know that is the actual plan not piece it together from hot mic footage and limited press availabilities.
The gap between what Ottawa says publicly and what it is actually doing is not just a communications problem. It is a trust problem. And trust is exactly what Canada needs right now from the workers, investors, and trading partners watching every move.
That is the Canadian take.
Until next time,
Dean
P.S. Do you think Canada should be pursuing closer trade ties with China right now, even with the tension it creates with our Western alliances? Hit reply and tell me honestly.