Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne is visiting China this week, a trip his office said will build on Prime Minister Mark Carney's visit to Canada's second-largest trading partner earlier this year. It resulted in reduced Chinese tariffs on canola seed in exchange for Canada letting 49,000 Chinese EVs into Canada at a reduced 6.1 per cent tariff rate. The Carney government has sought to diversity Canadian trade partners amid uncertainty about the Canada-U.S. trade relationship and U.S. President Donald Trump's ongoing tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum, lumber and autos. Ma, who crossed the floor from the Conservatives in December, asked whether McCuaig-Johnston had personally witnessed forced labour in Shenzhen, and whether she'd gotten word of it from "hearsay." WATCH | Finance minister speaks about forced labour: Finance minister says Canada at the 'forefront' of condemning forced labour ahead of China trip | Duration 1:31 Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne was asked on Monday if he would raise the issue of forced labour — specifically regarding Canadian-bound Chinese EVs and parts — while visiting China this week to meet with government and business leaders.

Source: CBC News March 30, 2026 19:59 UTC