Canada should be cautious about deepening trade with China, says Tokyo-based academic - The Globe and Mail

Open this photo in gallery:Prof. Suzuki is delivering presentations in Toronto, Ottawa and Calgary addressing the similar challenges facing Canada and Japan. Steven Chase/The Globe and MailOttawa 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. Prof.