Canada Shrugs at China’s Application to Join Pacific Rim Trade Agreement

Japan's Economy Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, centre, sits with other ministers and delegates of a Pacific Rim trade bloc during a joint press conference after a session of the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in Tokyo, on Jan. 19, 2019. Canada is giving China the cold shoulder over its interest in joining an 11-country Pacific Rim trading bloc that it views as an important gateway to diversifying the country's trade with other Asian countries. The Canadian Press/AP-Eugene Hoshiko

OTTAWA—Canada is giving China the cold shoulder over its interest in joining an 11-country Pacific Rim trading bloc that is viewed as an important gateway to diversifying Canadian trade with other Asian countries.

A spokesman for International Trade Minister Mary Ng says Canada is aware of China’s desire to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement on Trans-Pacific Partnership but has yet to have any discussion with the People’s Republic about that.