China
Fact Sheet
Surrey Board of Trade Contact:
Tong Xiaoling Consul General
Consulate Office of China
3380 Granville Street
Vancouver, BC
604.734.7492
chinaconsul_van_ca@mfa.gov.cn
China’s Economic Performance
China’s gross domestic product (GDP) expanded 8.1% year on year to 114 trillion yuan (about 18 trillion U.S. dollars) in 2021. It’s estimated to account for more than 18% of the global total and contribute to some 25% of global GDP growth.
Final consumption contributed 65.4% to the GDP expansion, while net exports contributed 20.9%.
The per capita GDP of China reached around 12,500 U.S. dollars in 2021, exceeding the global average.
China’s job market remained generally stable, with the surveyed urban unemployment rate standing at 5.1%, meeting the government target of around 5.5%.
China’s total goods import and export expanded 21.4% year on year to 39.1 trillion yuan (6.05 trillion U.S. dollars) in 2021, setting a new record high. Export rose 21.2% to 21.7 trillion yuan (3.36 trillion U.S. dollars), while import went up 21.5% to 17.4 trillion yuan (2.69 trillion U.S. dollars).
China’s foreign exchange reserves stood at 3.25 trillion U.S. dollars at the end of 2021, up 33.6 billion U.S. dollars from the end of 2020, hitting a six-year high.
The foreign direct investment into China expanded 14.9% year-on-year to a record high of 1.15 trillion yuan (173.5 billion U.S. dollars) in 2021, while China’s outbound direct investment increased by 2.2% year-on-year to 936.7 billion yuan (145.2 billion U.S. Dollars).
China-Canada / China-BC Trade
Bilateral trade between China and Canada increased by 12.5% year on year to 114.5 billion CND in 2021, setting a new record high. Canada’s export to China went up 14% to 28.8 billion CND while its import from China went up 12% to 85.7 billion CND.
In the same period, trade between China and the Province of British Columbia (BC) jumped by 43% to 27.8 billion CND, also setting a record high. BC’s export to China grew by 64.7% to almost 10 billion CND while its import from China grew by 33.4% to 17.9 billion CND.
China remains the second-largest trading partner, export destination, and import source of both Canada and BC.
Main Expos in China
China International Import Expo
https://www.ciie.org/zbh/en/
Contact of CIIE Supporting Organizer in BC/Yukon area:
Ms. Jeannie Cheng
President of Canada International Trade Promotion Society
Email: Hon_Au@shaw.ca
Cell: 7786681383
China Import and Export Fair, also known as Canton Fair
https://www.cantonfair.org.cn/
China International Fair for Trade in Services
https://www.ciftis.org/en
China ABC
http://english.www.gov.cn/archive/chinaabc/
Invest in China
https://fdi.mofcom.gov.cn/EN/come.html
http://english.www.gov.cn/services/investment/
Doing Business in China
http://english.www.gov.cn/services/doingbusiness/
China, food security, what it means for Canada: China Brief | Issue 081
China’s new food security law
An article in China-based Global Times notes that for the 19th year in a row agriculture, especially stabilizing full-year domestic grain production, was the focus of one of China’s important indicators of policy priorities – the “No.1 central document” published by the country’s central authorities. According to the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, a food security law will be developed in 2022 to target five regions that have experienced delayed planting and dozens of other regions that are at risk of extreme weather conditions. A total of 1.6 billion yuan ($253 million) has been allocated to stabilize wheat production under this food security law. President Xi Jinping told the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) that the end goal of this law is to ensure that “Chinese bowls are mainly filled with Chinese food.”
A recent report released by China’s agriculture minister states China’s wheat crop conditions have never been worse due to heavy rainfall. Some are saying the report could mean that China imports wheat for a little while longer.
Yicai Global, a Chinese business-focused news service, writes that in 2021 Canada accounted for 26 per cent of China’s wheat imports. Stay tuned for next month’s China Brief when we ask experts about the feasibility of China achieving food security through domestic measures and what it could mean for Canadian agriculture.
Canada’s role in China amid food security concerns
An article in the Financial Post notes that Chinese food security is at risk from the impact of the Ukraine crisis on existing global logistical disruptions and China’s flooding concerns. To help address these concerns, China recently lifted all wheat-import restrictions and dropped all phytosanitary rules for Russia. The crisis is also causing complications for Canadian farmers who may wish to pivot seeding plans to meet Chinese and global demand, particularly for wheat, as experts and farmers recently told CBC News.
- President of the Alberta Federation of Agriculture, Lynn Jacobson, explains that “while the chance for farmers to take advantage of the global food shortage is there, it comes with strings attached.
- For wheat farmers, the Russian invasion of Ukraine is putting 29 percent of the world’s wheat exports at risk. If given enough time Canadian farmers could work to fill global demand. Unfortunately, “the nature of harvest and seeding cycles means that farmers aren’t always in a place to react to trends broadly and quickly,” says Stephen Vandervalk, a fourth-generation farmer.
- Tom Steve, General Manager of the Alberta Wheat and Barley Commission (AWBC), says that “[Regarding] high wheat prices, it’s whether farmers will be able to broker a crop to satisfy the needs in the marketplace.”
- Dan Dias, CEO of Cereals Canada, also told CBC News in a separate report that Canadian wheat tends to be of higher quality and more expensive than Ukrainian and Russian wheat. Canada would have “enough supply [for] high-quality end-users” but can’t “fill every wheat requirement around the world.”
High prices of inputs for wheat, like fuel and fertilizer, have left farmers with a tough decision – do they expand their output or not. Farmers must also consider whether there will be another drought this summer. Some farmers may have already bought their seeds or pre-sold their crops at pre-crisis prices. In short, this growing season will be one to watch to see how producers pivot their plans.
In other news
- A CTV News article notes that Canada’s foreign affairs minister, Melanie Joly, has been speaking with G7 partners as she continues to strengthen a Canada-led international convention that condemns hostage diplomacy. Just last week, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken announced his support of the convention.
- This Toronto Star article highlights a push by the Taiwanese-Canadian business for Canada to support Taiwan’s inclusion in the CPTPP since September. Those in favor of the bid say it will increase trade opportunities between the two countries and lower import duties for Canada.
- In a B.C. government news release, expected to open in 2023, a historic building in China Town, Vancouver will be home to the Chinese Canadian Museum. The $27.5 million project intends to provide a space for the heritage of Chinese-Canadians to be celebrated in B.C.
- According to the latest trade data in this CBC article, Canadian lobster has had its biggest export year in history. Exports surpassed $3.2 billion last year with the value of live exports to China and U.S. remaining relatively consistent while increases were seen in frozen and processed sales to the U.S.
- The Vancouver Sun is talking about a new digital platform that offers a place for Chinese women to connect around the world. WeWorkingWomen is a Chinese women’s leadership platform that offers a wide range of ways to connect on topics ranging from philanthropy opportunities to speaker series. More than 100,000 Chinese women from around the world are in touch through the platform.
- B.C.’s North Shore News published an article confirming that Canada and Chinese regulators approved the sale of a B.C. gold mine to an Aussie company. The new owner of the Brucejack gold mine is the Australian company Newcrest Mining Ltd. The $3.5 billion deal required Chinese approval since some of the B.C. gold ends up in China via direct sale or third parties.
- The Globe and Mail highlights Canadian Hong Kongers and Taiwanese solidarity with Ukrainians. Outside of the Vancouver Art Gallery, hundreds of people gather with signs that emphasize parallels between Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Ukraine. Through signs that read “Hong Kongers stand with Ukraine” to folks waving the Taiwanese flag – supporters indicated they believe the fight for freedom extends beyond Ukraine.
CWF’s Belt and Road and Five-Year Plan Monitor
China’s multibillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the state-backed global infrastructure development strategy, has the potential to enormously shift global trade through new levels of infrastructure and supply chain integration, in the Asia-Pacific region as well as globally. China’s most recent five-year plan (FYP) sets the country’s priorities for 2021 to 2025 as well as the vision for 2035. These shifts have the potential to alter both the Chinese and global markets for Western Canadian-produced commodities. The China Brief now includes a section with relevant BRI and FYP developments. We welcome feedback as we continue to develop this new feature.
China – U.S. cooperation on projects?
Wang Yi, China’s Foreign Minister, recently invited the United States to cooperate on the Belt and Road Initiative, Reuters reports. China also said it is willing to work with the G-7 on the Build Back Better World (B3W) initiative which was, ironically enough, created to counter China’s rising global influence. The minister said that the opportunity to work together would create “openness, inclusiveness, innovation, growth, connectivity and win-win cooperation” between the U.S. and China.
War in Ukraine impacts BRI
The South China Morning Post explained how the China-Europe Railway Express, a “critical pipeline for Chinese exports to Europe,” has been indirectly impacted by the war in Ukraine. Chinese exporters and European importers have started to switch to sea cargo as there are concerns railway operations could be impacted. The switch to sea transport is compounding supply chain issues for global shipping and could result in “more delays, less capacity, and higher costs,” according to the South China Morning Post. The Silk Road Briefing says that Southern BRI routes through Kazakhstan to the Caspian Sea should also see a boom in investment if EU demand for Chinese products continues.
Argentina joins BRI
Following a trend among Latin American countries, the Asia Times reports that Argentina has signed on to the BRI. The move will allow the country to transition away from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) given its new access to the Asian Infrastructure Bank and BRICS New Development Bank. As the Globe and Mail points out, Argentina is also a large supplier of beef and soybeans to China so this move will be of interest to Western Canadian exporters. Canada and Argentina both increased barley exports to China following Chinese sanctions on Australian barley (see this China Brief for more).
China’s Two Sessions sets 2022 targets
The Chinese government recently completed the Two Sessions, annual meetings of the National People’s Congress, and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. As part of the sessions, the Chinese government has set its priorities for 2022, with thanks to the China Briefing for the English summary. The priorities are:
- Target GDP of “around 5.5 percent”
- Preferential tax incentives
- Stimulating consumption
- Foreign trade and investment
- COVID-19 prevention measures in 2022
- Guaranteeing employment
- Climate and environment
- Elderly care and childcare
Gobi Desert energy project
The China Daily recently summarized China’s climate and environment workplan for 2022, which is part of the broader five-year plan. Reuters reports that as part of this plan, China will construct facilities to generate 450 GW of wind and solar capacity in the Gobi Desert.
