China: As Canada talks trade deal, Trump’s Washington eyes it warily
WASHINGTON — On the eve of Donald Trump’s inauguration, Robert Zoellick — an eminent figure in American trade policy — offered Canada a pointed warning about China: proceed with caution.
A former president of the World Bank, trade czar to George W. Bush and occasional critic of Trump, Zoellick participated in a panel on Canada-U.S. relations the night before the newly elected president took office.
He flagged a concern about the timing of Canada-China trade talks.
At a moment when China hawks are swooping into Washington, setting up nest in a new U.S. administration and eyeing opportunities to attack alleged commercial abuses, Canada is moving the other way: starting trade negotiations, discussing an extradition treaty and approving the Chinese takeover of a high-tech firm with military uses.