But he says the time is now right to launch free trade talks with the Communist government. The point apparently ignored by the critics is that we are already doing business with China — merchandise exports rose to $21 billion last year from $2.4 billion in 1997. In the summer of 2012, Stephen Harper arrived at the same decision point on whether to launch formal free trade talks. An announcement on free trade negotiations was imminent when the sale of oil producer Calgary-based Nexen to a Chinese state-owned enterprise raised the domestic political stakes and the moment was lost. Saint-Jacques said the Chinese remain more keen to strike a deal than Canada.

Source: National Post December 03, 2017 17:37 UTC