Justin Trudeau’s main rival Erin O’Toole says his Canada would be tougher on China
- Conservative Party leader says he would consider a boycott on some Chinese goods if he wins an election that could come as early as next year
- Canada has been caught in the middle of the US-China trade war since the arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver two years ago
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s main rival on Thursday said he would toughen the country’s stance on China, including potentially boycotting some goods produced there.
The arrest of Huawei Technologies Co. Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver on a US warrant two years ago put Canada in the middle of the US-China trade war, and Ottawa continues to struggle to respond to Beijing.
“The Trudeau government has been out of step and naive on China since the moment he was elected,” Conservative Party leader Erin O’Toole said in an interview.
As prime minister, O’Toole said he would not “sacrifice our security interests, our values, our alliances, just for trade opportunities”. An election could come as early as next year.
Trudeau has come under increased pressure to embolden his approach to China, which arrested two Canadian citizens soon after Meng was detained. China has also shut down most imports of Canadian canola.
Two months ago, the United States announced targeted bans on some goods produced in Xinjiang in an effort to combat China’s use of forced labour by detained Uygur Muslims there. O’Toole said he would consider doing the same, if elected.