cross-posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/11924601

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Ottawa should be mindful of the risks of deepening trade with China because Beijing could leverage it for economic coercion in the future, says a prominent Tokyo-based academic on a Canadian speaking tour, sponsored by Japan’s government.

Kazuto Suzuki is a professor at the University of Tokyo’s Graduate School of Public Policy and a member of the government’s Council for Japan’s Growth Strategy, which aims to strengthen economic security.

“If you increase dependency on China, be careful, be aware of the risks that China could use that as a weapon against you,” Prof. Suzuki said in an interview Thursday.

He was speaking of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s efforts to attract Chinese investment and boost trade with Beijing. Mr. Carney and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to meet next month at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen and talk about next steps in a “strategic partnership” struck this year.

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Prof. Suzuki is delivering presentations in Toronto, Ottawa and Calgary addressing the similar challenges facing Canada and Japan – both of which are trying to reduce dependence on a major foreign market. Canada is trying to lessen reliance on the increasing protectionist and unpredictable United States under Donald Trump and Japan is undertaking to reduce dependence on China for strategic goods.

“Interdependence can hurt you. That is the reality today,” he said. “So we have to be prepared because the rules do not protect us.”

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Relations between Japan and China have fallen to their lowest point in about 15 years. Beijing has imposed trade restrictions and export controls on Japan, effectively cutting off shipments of key rare earth minerals used in electric-vehicle magnets, protective coatings and other high-tech products.

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Still, Prof. Suzuki said, Mr. Carney’s message would have more impact in Asia if the Prime Minister spent more time focusing on the region.

“I think he [Carney] has more interest in doing business with Europe, and he hasn’t paid much attention to Asia, and if he’s serious about the middle power coalition, there are lots of middle powers in Asia,” he said.

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Prof. Suzuki proposes Canada and Japan co-operate to form a coalition of the “rule-based order.” He said the 12-country Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), of which Canada and Japan are both members, is a good vehicle and should be expanded to create a secure and reliable supply chain for its signatories from Southeast Asia to Canada, Mexico and South America.

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