Friday, September 25, 2026
Burton: As Xi and Trump do their dance, Canada is left to wonder about its place
Burton: As Xi and Trump do their dance, Canada is left to wonder about its place
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-xi-trump-summit-canada-china/
The only way Mr. Trump could get Mr. Xi to weaken support for strategic allies Russia and Iran would be in exchange for a promise from Mr. Trump to stop supporting – through arms sales – the defence of democratic Taiwan against Chinese annexation. But many influential Republicans are diehard Taiwan supporters, so it is unlikely he could deliver this to Mr. Xi.
t was just nine months ago Prime Minister Mark Carney signed an agreement for Canada to become a “strategic partner” of China and adopt a new approach of “constructive engagement.” This means Canada is less likely to cross the diplomatic “red lines” of criticism of China’s Taiwan policy, human rights, China’s political system and China’s “right to development” (i.e. not stopping PRC acquisition of military technologies).
Mr. Xi seems prepared to go slow with Canada to avoid irritating China-U.S. relations.
Thursday, August 27, 2026
Burton: Dictators are pleased to watch Canada and the U.S. slug it out
Dictators are pleased to watch Canada and the U.S. slug it out
If Canada ever reaches a point where attacks on our economy put families’ livelihoods at stake, then standing firm on our moral principles will give way to tolerating – or at least ignoring – human rights abuses in exchange for restoring Canadian prosperity through trade and investment with the likes of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and China. As someone who has been sanctioned by both Beijing and Moscow for standing up for Canadian democratic and civil values in global affairs, this prospect is deeply troubling.
Friday, July 31, 2026
Kolga and Burton: Canada cannot trade away the danger of a Russia-China alliance: National security must come before greater economic engagement
Kolga and Burton: Canada cannot trade away the danger of a Russia-China alliance: National security must come before greater economic engagement
Calling China a strategic partner while Beijing helps Russia strengthen capabilities that could eventually be directed against Canada arguably already undermines Canadian interests. National security must come before greater economic engagement.
That means treating China’s support for Russia as a factor in trade, investment and procurement decisions. Canada must scrutinize Chinese investment in Arctic infrastructure, telecommunications, energy and critical minerals, reduce dependence on Chinese-controlled supply chains in strategic sectors, and strengthen export controls preventing Canadian and allied technology from reaching Russia through third countries.
Friday, July 24, 2026
Burton and Therchin Podcast Episode 2: Was Modern China Ever Close to Embracing True Liberalization?
Burton and Therchin Podcast Episode 2: Was Modern China Ever Close to Embracing True Liberalization?
Tuesday, July 14, 2026
Burton: Xi or Trump? In the upheaval of world order, Canada calculates its "strategic partnership" with China
Xi or Trump? In the upheaval of world order, Canada calculates its ‘strategic partnership’ with China
At a time when powerful leaders change their narratives and ignore their promises, how much benefit Canada can derive from kowtowing in either Beijing or Washington? Xi and Trump have no qualms about abrogating any agreement or understanding that Canada may think it has with them.
As America grapples to hold its swagger in a volatile geopolitical landscape, Chinese leader Xi Jinping exudes confidence that China is achieving “the community of the common destiny of mankind”, wherein the West’s glory days are past and China assumes global supremacy of “all under Heaven”.
In Ottawa, it was telling that Canadian officials remained silent after the Chinese Ambassador recently threatened Canada could say goodbye to our “strategic partnership” if we continue participating in freedom of naval navigation exercises through the Taiwan Strait.
Burton: How many more times will Beijing fool Canada’s politicians?
How many more times will Beijing fool Canada’s politicians?
When Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met Canadian counterpart Anita Anand for bilateral talks this spring,
he said our relations must be based on “setting aside differences and
seeking common ground.” But experience shows that Beijing never sets
aside any differences. Rather, China expects Ottawa to simply abandon
any non-trade concerns in return for greater access to the Chinese
market.
In this instance, the carrot was Mr. Wang speculating that if bilateral relations maintain “a momentum of development, and our policies remain stable and positive,” trade could grow 50 or even 100 per cent, “because China will soon become the world’s largest market, and the Chinese market is opening up to Canada more and more.”
When then-Chinese president Hu Jintao visited prime minister Paul Martin in 2005, the leaders elevated relations to a “strategic partnership” and promised to double bilateral trade within five years.
Eleven years later, premier Li Keqiang told then-prime minister Justin Trudeau that China would double trade with Canada by 2025, along with settling a dispute over canola and talks on free trade.
The promises never materialized, and Beijing’s mercantilistic regime – which strictly controls the economy to maximize state wealth and power – will never give Canada access to any significant share of China’s internal markets. Beijing sustains its economy with exports, not imports.
Monday, July 13, 2026
Tohti, McCuaig-Johnston Teich and Burton: How Canada can stand against forced labour in China
How Canada can stand against forced labour in China
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-how-canada-can-stand-against-forced-labour-in-china/
Canada has introduced new, stronger legislation on forced labour in response to the U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR) Section 301 investigation, a pretext for President Donald Trump’s beggar-thy-neighbour tariffs. The USTR found that Canada was not adequately implementing its current legislation.
As a result, 10-per-cent tariffs are threatened on Canadian products not covered by USMCA.
This was an own goal for Canada. Until last year, we were ramping up implementation by developing more rigorous legislation and enforcement. But then the state visit to China was offered and the government started dropping all its forced labour tools.
Bureaucrats drafting new legislation put down their pens. Staff reviewing products from Xinjiang produced with forced labour were told their jobs were being eliminated. Some were redeployed to increasing trade with China. Customs notices directing companies to comply with current legislation dropped mentions of forced labour. Global Affairs Canada no longer mentioned it in its Departmental Plan.
Tohti, McCuaig-Johnston Teich and Burton: Canada is trying to stop importing goods made by forced labour. Here is why it is not working
Canada is trying to stop importing goods made by forced labour. Here is why it is not working
China did not wait for Canada to act. While Ottawa spent six years
allowing goods made with Uyghur forced labour to move largely unhindered
from Xinjiang into Canadian markets, Beijing was building a legal
system designed to punish countries and companies that eventually might
dare to act.
Beijing is betting that six years of near-total enforcement failure are a
reliable guide to Ottawa’s future behaviour. C-35 is the chance to
prove that bet wrong, but only if the Carney government is prepared to
write the one word that every credible Uyghur forced labour policy
requires: Xinjiang.
Burton and Therchin Podcast Episode 01: Understanding China's Ethnic Unity and Progress Law
Episode 01: Understanding China's Ethnic Unity and Progress Law
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Trump going into high stakes summit in China ‘looking weak,' former diplomat Charles Burton on CTV
Trump going into high stakes summit in China ‘looking weak,' former diplomat Charles Burton on CTV
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