Canada-China Bilateral Trade Analysis 2023
Complete trade statistics: $89.38B total volume •Canada deficit: $33.35B
Canada → China
$28.01B
Exports (2023)
China → Canada
$61.37B
Imports (2023)
Trade Balance
$33.35B
Deficit for Canada
Total Trade
$89.38B
Combined Volume
Trade Flow Visualization
Direct trade relationship between Canada and China. Green line shows exports from Canada, red line shows imports.
Detailed Product Trade Analysis
Comprehensive breakdown of trade flows by product category, revealing the specialized nature of the Canada-China commercial relationship and competitive positioning in global markets.
Canada → China Exports
Export Market Intelligence
🎯 Strategic Export Focus
Canada's export portfolio to China demonstrates strong diversification across multiple sectors, with oils: petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude representing a key competitive advantage in this bilateral market.
China → Canada Imports
Import Dependency Profile
📦 Import Strategy Analysis
Canada's import pattern from China reveals significant dependencyin telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks, highlighting complementary economic structures and potential supply chain optimization opportunities.
Competitive Trade Position Analysis
Market Leadership
Canada demonstrates competitive strength in exportingoils: petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude to China, leveraging comparative advantages.
Trade Complementarity
The bilateral relationship showsmoderatecomplementarity, with each country specializing in different sectors.
Growth Potential
The $89.38B trade volume indicates substantial economic integration with room for expansion in emerging sectors.
Executive Summary: Canada-China Trade Relationship
Key Trade Highlights 2023
- Total Trade Volume: $89.38 billionrepresenting a significant bilateral economic relationship
- Trade Balance: Canada maintains a deficit of $33.35 billion
- Export Focus: Canada's primary exports include oils: petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude, oil seeds: low erucic acid rape or colza seeds, whether or not broken, coal: bituminous, whether or not pulverised, but not agglomerated
- Import Dependencies: Key imports from China include telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks, automatic data processing machines: portable, weighing not more than 10kg, consisting of at least a central processing unit, a keyboard and a display, vehicles: with only electric motor for propulsion
Strategic Trade Indicators
📈 Market Position: This bilateral trade relationship represents one of the world's largest trade partnerships, with complementary economic strengths driving sustained commercial exchange.
Historical Trade Analysis & Economic Context
Trade Evolution Timeline
2019-2023: Recent Trends
Current trade volume of $89.38B represents the culmination of evolving bilateral commercial relationships, influenced by global supply chain shifts and changing economic priorities.
2015-2019: Growth Period
Sustained expansion in bilateral trade driven by complementary economic structures, with Canada leveraging its comparative advantages in oils: petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude.
2010-2015: Foundation Building
Establishment of modern trade frameworks and reduction of barriers, facilitating increased commercial exchange and investment flows between the two economies.
Pre-2010: Early Development
Initial stages of bilateral trade relationship development, with focus on traditional export-import patterns and gradual market integration.
Key Economic Drivers
Comparative Advantage
Canada's specialization in oils: petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crudecomplements China's demand patterns, creating natural trade synergies.
Supply Chain Integration
Deep integration in global value chains has strengthened bilateral linkages, particularly in telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks.
Market Access & Trade Policy
Favorable trade agreements and market access conditions have facilitated the growth of this $89.38B bilateral relationship.
Trade Pattern Insights
Trade Relationship Outlook
The $89.38B bilateral trade volume positions this relationship for continued growth, supported by technological advancement, evolving consumer preferences, and strengthening economic ties. Key opportunities lie in expanding cooperation in emerging sectors while managing potential supply chain vulnerabilities.
Economic Impact & Strategic Outlook
Economic Impact Assessment
Trade Volume Impact
The $89.38 billion bilateral trade volume represents a major economic driverfor both economies.
Industrial Integration
Trade flows in oils: petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude and telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks demonstrate deep industrial linkages and supply chain integration.
Trade Balance Effects
Canada's trade deficit of $33.35 billion impacts its overall economic position in this bilateral relationship.
Strategic Future Outlook
🚀Growth Opportunities
⚠️Risk Factors
🎯Strategic Recommendations
- Strengthen cooperation in high-value sectors beyond current trade patterns
- Develop alternative supply chains to reduce dependency risks
- Explore joint ventures in emerging technology sectors
- Enhance trade facilitation and reduce transaction costs
Market Position & Competitive Summary
The bilateral trade relationship between Canada and China represents a total trade volume of $89.38 billion in 2023. This partnership demonstrates an unfavorable trade balance for Canada, with imports exceeding exportsby $33.35 billion.
Export Strengths
Canada's exports to China total $28.01 billion, with competitive advantages in oils: petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude, representing $3.95B or14.1% of bilateral exports.
Import Dependencies
Imports from China amount to $61.37 billion, highlighting economic interdependence in telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks, with Telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks comprising6.9% of total imports.
The trade relationship reflects broader economic patterns and comparative advantages. The trade deficit indicates Canada's strategic sourcing from China. This partnership is characterized by complementary trade flows, with each country specializing in different product categories based on their respective economic strengths, industrial capabilities, and position in global value chains.
Download Bilateral Trade Data
Access detailed trade data between Canada and China in multiple formats.
Data Source: CEPII BACI (Base pour l'Analyse du Commerce International) • Last Updated: January 2025 • Coverage: 1995-2023