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關稅戰，加拿大必須與中國和印度達成貿易協定
為應對美國不斷升級的關稅，加拿大必須加倍努力，與中國和印度達成貿易協定
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/canada-must-redouble-efforts-to-secure-trade-agreements-with-china-and-india-in-response-to/article_dc0a88c8-fb72-4e73-8812-c8b7e86ac20d.html
Jaime Watt 2025年8月10日
Jaime Watt是Navigator Ltd.的執行董事長，也是保守黨戰略家。他也是《星報》的自由撰稿專欄作家。@jaimewatt。
渥太華新任貿易部長Maninder Sidhu最近告訴加拿大新聞社，他的電話一直響個不停，充滿了商機。
他表示，他正在尋求在南美、東南亞、非洲及其他地區達成新的協議。
他還表示，他計劃訪問巴西，重啟貿易談判。
他指出，加拿大正在考慮與其他國家達成“特定行業協議”，而不是涵蓋多個行業的包羅萬象的貿易協議。用他的話說：“我們正在非常有創意地探索如何打開更多大門。”
這種雄心壯誌無可挑剔，因為它遵循了自今年1月唐納德·特朗普連任以來，每一位政界評論員和經濟學家都掛在嘴邊的口號：多元化。
隻有一個問題。
Sidhu 所關注的這些國家——甚至整個大洲——的GDP總量，與真正的經濟超級大國——印度、中國和美國的市場影響力相比，幾乎微不足道。
這並不是說該策略是錯誤的或沒有價值。這並不是說西杜忽視了更大的參與者——印度和中國顯然在他的關注範圍內（加美貿易屬於多米尼克·勒布朗的檔案）。
而是說，我們不能隻關注邊緣問題，而忽略了主要事件。
大多數評論員在對加拿大與美國陷入僵局的談判進行無休止的剖析時，忽略了這一點：談判未能完成的原因是唐納德·特朗普仍在忙於與中國和印度的談判。
他優先處理這兩個國家是有原因的。
這兩個國家是高風險的。好處更大，壞處也更危險。在任何談判中，你都要先處理好主菜，然後再處理配菜。
當然，加拿大不能假裝自己是主菜。在確定貿易優先事項的順序方麵，我們沒有美國那樣的籌碼或靈活性。但這這並不意味著我們可以忽視基本麵。
我們必須優先考慮與中國和印度重新建立聯係——不僅因為它們的規模，更因為它們是美國市場的關鍵製衡力量。
雖然我們與歐洲在外交和經濟方麵取得了有意義的進展，但我們對這兩個對我們長期多元化至關重要的經濟體的戰略關注卻遠遠不夠。
我們與中國之間仍然深陷針鋒相對的貿易戰。今年3月，北京方麵對加拿大征收電動汽車、鋼鐵和鋁關稅進行報複，對我們的農產品出口征收了新的關稅。
在加拿大領土上發生一起據稱的暗殺事件後，我們與印度的外交關係仍然處於困境之中。是的，安全談判已經重啟。是的，莫迪接受了馬克·卡尼的邀請，參加了在阿爾伯塔舉行的七國集團峰會。是的，冰雪正在融化——但水溫仍然太低。
但現在我們有了共同點。由於印度與俄羅斯貿易往來日益加深，他們也落入了特朗普的瞄準鏡——麵臨對印度商品征收50%關稅的局麵。盡管多年來一直在外交上試圖將印度定位為製衡中國的戰略力量，但上個月，特朗普卻將印度經濟斥為“已死”。
換句話說，機遇來了。
所以，底線是：加拿大根本承受不起與世界幾大貿易強國脫節的後果。
任何一次南美貿易之行——盡管可能很有價值——都無法填補這一空白。
讓我明確一點：這並不是對南美或全球南方國家的排斥。這些關係至關重要。在新興市場達成針對特定行業的協議是值得的，也是必要的。這也不是說我們可以忽視美國——我們最大的貿易夥伴和我們一體化經濟的基石。隨著《加拿大美國製造法案》（CUSMA）將於2026年接受審查，我們現在采取的每一步都必須經過深思熟慮，以確保加拿大能夠以強勢姿態參與這些談判。
30年來，Maninder 一直與妻兒相依為命，視布蘭普頓為家。
秉承著 Maninder 成長過程中秉持的價值觀，Maninder 堅信人應該盡己所能做好事。Maninder 積極投身慈善事業，包括指導有抱負的年輕企業家。此外，他還創立了“善良運動慈善機構”（The Kindness Movement Charity）。該慈善機構致力於幫助印度和加拿大的貧困學童和弱勢群體。
Maninder 從滑鐵盧大學畢業後，創立了一家成功的報關公司。如今，Maninder 懷著對所獲機遇的感激之情，決心幫助這裏的年輕人在家鄉和家人身邊取得更大的成功。
Maninder 深知如何壯大我們的中產階級，創造高薪新工作，並為家庭提供真正的幫助。他堅信，釋放我們才華橫溢的年輕人和企業家的潛力，並打造新的本土企業和公司。
Maninder 將努力確保每一位年輕人都能享有和他一樣的機會，在我們的家鄉生活、工作和養家糊口。他很榮幸能夠成為布蘭普頓東區的國會議員，並決心更加努力地為我們社區的家庭服務。
Canada must redouble efforts to secure trade agreements with China and India in response to escalating U.S. tariffs
Jaime Watt Aug. 10, 2025
Jaime Watt is the executive chairman of Navigator Ltd. and a Conservative strategist. He is a freelance contributing columnist for the Star. @jaimewatt.
Ottawa’s new trade minister, Maninder Sidhu, recently told The Canadian Press his phone has been ringing off the hook with opportunities.
He shared that he’s looking to strike new deals in South America, Southeast Asia, Africa and beyond.
He added that he plans to visit Brazil to revive trade talks there.
He noted that Canada is considering “sector-specific agreements� with other countries — instead of broad, catch-all trade deals that span multiple industries — and, in his words: “We are getting very creative in how we can open up more doors.
You can’t fault the ambition because it follows the watchword that’s been on the lips of every political talking head and economist since before Donald Trump was reinaugurated this past January: diversification.
There’s just one problem.
The entire GDP of the countries — and even continents — Sidhu is focused on barely register compared to the market gravity of the true economic superpowers: India, China, and the United States.
This isn’t to say the strategy is misguided or unworthy. And it’s not to suggest Sidhu is neglecting the bigger players — India and China are clearly on his radar (Canada-U. S. trade falls under Dominic LeBlanc’s file).
But it is to say we cannot afford to fixate on the margins while the main event goes ignored.
What most commentators have missed in the endless autopsy of Canada’s stalled negotiations with the U.S. is this: the reason the talks are incomplete is because Donald Trump is still busy with China and India.
And there’s a reason he’s handling those first.
They are the high-stakes tables. The upside is bigger. The downside is riskier. And in any negotiation, you deal with the main course before you turn to the side dishes.
Of course, Canada can’t pretend to be the entrée. We don’t have the same leverage or flexibility as the U.S. when it comes to sequencing trade priorities. But that doesn’t mean we get to ignore the fundamentals either.
We must prioritize re-engagement with China and India — not only because of their scale, but because they are the key counterweights to the American market.
While we’ve made meaningful diplomatic and economic strides with Europe, we’ve placed far too little strategic focus on the two economies that matter enormously to our long-term diversification.
With China, we remain locked in a tit-for-tat trade war. In March, Beijing retaliated against Canadian tariffs on electric vehicles, steel, and aluminum by slapping new duties on our agricultural exports.
With India, we remain in diplomatic purgatory following the fallout from an alleged assassination on Canadian soil. Yes, security talks have restarted. Yes, Modi accepted Mark Carney’s invitation to the G7 in Alberta. Yes, the ice is thawing — but the waters are still far too cold.
But now we share something in common. Thanks to India’s deepening trade with Russia, they too have landed in Trump’s crosshairs — facing a 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods. And last month, despite years of diplomatic overtures to position India as a strategic counterweight to China, Trump dismissed their economy as “dead.
In other words, opportunity knocks.
So, the bottom line is this: Canada simply cannot afford to be out of sync with the world’s largest trading powers.
No trade trip to South America — valuable though it may be — can come anywhere close to filling that gap.
Let me be clear: this is not a dismissal of South America or the Global South. Those relationships matter. Sector-specific agreements in emerging markets are worthwhile and necessary. Nor is it to suggest we can take our eye off the United States — our largest trading partner and the bedrock of our integrated economy. With CUSMA up for review in 2026, every step we take now must be calculated to ensure Canada heads into those negotiations from a position of strength.
But if we’re going to “get creative� about opening doors, let’s start with the ones that matter most.
Because no matter how many side doors we manage to pry open, if the front gates to the likes of Beijing and New Delhi remain closed — our economy will miss out on the growth and scale only those markets can offer.
About Maninder Sidhu
Maninder Sidhu is your Member of Parliament for Brampton East. He is a husband, father, entrepreneur, philanthropist and someone who is passionate about making Brampton a better place. Maninder has lived in Brampton for the past 30 years and today, still calls Brampton home alongside his wife and children.
Building on the values that Maninder was raised on, Maninder firmly believes that one should do all the good that you can. Among many philanthropic endeavors, including mentoring aspiring young entrepreneurs, Maninder is the founder of The Kindness Movement Charity. This charity assists underprivileged school children and the less fortunate in India and here in Canada.
After graduating from the University of Waterloo, Maninder built a successful customs brokerage business. Today, motivated by gratitude for the opportunities he has had, Maninder is determined to help young people here find more success, close to home and their families.
Maninder knows what it takes to strengthen our middle class, create well-paying new jobs, and offer real help to families. He believes in unlocking the potential of our talented young people and entrepreneurs and build new, home-grown businesses and companies.
Maninder will work to ensure every young person has the same opportunity he has had to live, work and raise a family in our hometown. He feels humbled and grateful to be your Member of Parliament for Brampton East — and he is determined to work even harder for families in our community.
