Eby says B.C. will be ‘engine of new Canada’ by increasing trading with Asia

B.C. Premier David Eby says the province will send envoys to Asia to establish new trade agreements with international buyers amid the trade war with the U.S.

Speaking from Point Hope Shipyard in Victoria Wednesday, Eby says he, Minister of Agriculture Lana Popham, and Parliamentary Secretary Paul Choi will visit Japan, South Korea and Malaysia.

“We’re under attack by the president of our largest trading partner, our relationship with overseas markets, the opportunity to expand those markets and diversify markets away from the United States is more important than ever, and that’s what we’re going to do,” said Eby.

He says Popham will come along due to a “significant uptake” in free trade agreements buying B.C. food.

“We are not just limiting our discussions, though, to food. We know that there are customers overseas for so much of what we produce here… lumber, wood products, LNG, critical metals and minerals that are in demand across the world,” said Eby.

“Our province will be the engine of the new Canada that is more independent, that is less reliant on the United States, and that faces us boldly and confidently to the entire world, and we’re excited about playing that role here.”

The premier says success overseas will be measured by seeing trade volumes increase and he’s emboldened by the federal government’s renewed focus on diversifying trade partners.