Eby to visit Japan, South Korea and Malaysia on trade trip to reduce U.S. reliance
VICTORIA — B.C. Premier David Eby says a trade mission to Asia next month will help the province become the "engine of a new Canada," but one economist says B.C. also needs to become more competitive at home.
Eby will be visiting Japan, South Korea and Malaysia between June 1 and June 10 as part of a business delegation also including B.C. Agriculture Minister Lana Popham and Paul Choi, parliamentary secretary for Asia-Pacific trade.
Eby says the trip is aimed at deepening ties with existing customers buying goods from British Columbia and finding new ones for natural resources in demand around the world.
He says the trip is part of a joint plan with the federal government to make Canada more independent and less reliant on the United States.
Jairo Yunis, director of policy with the Business Council of British Columbia, says it's important to diversify trade, but this agenda will only pay off if B.C. speeds up permitting for natural resources and becomes a more attractive place for foreign investors.
Japan and South Korea rank third and fourth among B.C.'s trading partners, well behind mainland China and the United States, which absorbs about 55 per cent of provincial exports.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 14, 2025.
Wolfgang Depner, The Canadian Press
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Wire
an hour ago
- Business Wire
Grocery retailers driving ~3.8% incremental sales growth with new data-driven loyalty programmes
SYDNEY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Grocery retailers deploying L's tactical loyalty campaigns see an average 3.8% like-for-like sales growth*, even as rising costs, global trade tensions and inflation put additional pressure on already slim margins. With tariffs and supply chain disruptions pushing up consumer prices, shoppers are prioritising value more than ever when it comes to where to shop, how often and why. " Retailers are navigating a perfect storm of rising costs and disrupted shopper behaviour patterns triggered by cost-of-living concerns," says Sue Temple, General Manager of L - founders of loyalty Pacific. "In the search for value, 85% of Australian households now shop with multiple stores, driving store repertoires to all-time highs with 48% changing that store list from week to week.' ** As consumer spending habits turn toward value-driven purchasing, retailers must rethink their promotional strategies to differentiate their offerings and protect their bottom line whilst not compromising their long-term brand proposition. 'With Total Store Impact, we go beyond building campaigns – we're offering a proven, data-driven approach to growing sales today and building brand equity for tomorrow,' said Sue. Data-Driven Tactical Loyalty: A Smarter Approach to Retail Growth L's new data-driven model, Total Store Impact, strategically integrates tactical loyalty campaigns into the retailer's marketing mix, creating a continuous cycle of value for customers and growth for retailers. By incentivising visits through highly desirable and exclusive free rewards, shoppers are encouraged to return more frequently and spend more per trip. This short-term boost enables retailers to generate immediate revenue and reinvest in their operations, fuelling a positive productivity loop whilst also impacting shopper perceptions of value from their weekly shop. What sets L's approach apart? — Immediate Business Gains: Retailers implementing L's model have seen 3.8% average like-for-like sales growth – a direct impact on revenue and profitability. — Sustained Brand Growth: By embedding emotional connection, brand alignment and sustained engagement strategies, retailers strengthen their long-term brand equity and reputation, ensuring sustainable growth. — AI & Consumer Insights: By leveraging predictive analytics, L forecasts customer behaviour and optimises operations for retailers, ensuring seamless execution. A Global View from the Centre of Retail As the strategic partner for the world's leading retailers for more than 30 years, L brings unique insight into the challenges shaping the industry. ' Every retailer I speak with faces the same challenge: how do we protect margins while continuing to engage customers meaningfully? ' says Temple. ' The reality is that traditional promotions and price cuts are no longer enough and in Australia are being actively scrutinised by the regulatory bodies on matters of simplicity and transparency. Retailers need a data-driven, total-store strategy that enhances storewide performance, differentiates their brand and keeps customers coming back more often.' With a newly launched website and an upcoming presence at the Consumer Goods Forum (CGF), L is doubling down on its mission to help retailers thrive. Visit to learn more. Source: *sales growth based on analysis of 43 campaigns across 28 retailers in 13 markets. Final number may vary per region. ** L - founders of loyalty customer survey May 2025 (517 respondents) About L - founders of loyalty L - founders of loyalty is the global leader in tactical loyalty campaigns for grocery retailers. With over 30 years of experience across 35 markets and five continents, L partners with 100+ leading grocery retailers, representing nearly €500B in annual sales and engaging over 60M customers worldwide. At the core of their approach is Total Store Impact – a data-driven business model designed to optimise customer spending across the entire store assortment. By integrating behavioural insights, AI-driven analytics and precision-targeted incentives, L's campaigns boost sales productivity and improve profit margins in the short term, while strengthening brand equity and long-term business growth. For more details, visit
New York Times
2 hours ago
- New York Times
The Art of the Stall: China's Strategy for Dealing With Trump
If China's top leader, Xi Jinping, wrote a book titled 'The Art of Dealing With Trump,' it would most likely call for exploiting the American president's greatest weaknesses to exert maximal pressure, and then using the time gained to strengthen one's position. That appears to be the strategy Beijing has adopted since President Trump ramped up tariffs on Chinese goods in April in a bid to get China to import more American goods and export fewer of its own. Rather than yield, China has leaned on a trump card, its control of critical minerals — which the United States depends on — while steering the focus to protracted talks instead of concrete results. Meetings like the ones that just concluded in London and that took place last month in Geneva, analysts say, keep the United States mired in negotiations over vague procedural steps — such as, in London, setting a 'framework' for future talks. That allows China to avoid addressing the thornier disputes such as Washington's accusations that China subsidizes industries unfairly, dumps goods overseas, and limits foreign companies' ability to do business in China. 'I think China is very comfortable with this cycle of economic skirmishing with the United States followed by episodes of diplomacy that merely return to the status quo ante,' said Jonathan Czin, a fellow at the Brookings Institution who previously worked in the Central Intelligence Agency analyzing Chinese politics. 'This cat-and-mouse game keeps the United States from making any headway toward addressing any of the underlying U.S. concerns about China's unfair nonmarket policies,' Mr. Czin added. China has a long history of frustrating the United States in economic dialogues that often lead nowhere. Such engagement, critics say, allows Beijing to deflect pressure from the United States while continuing to build up its economy and manufacturing prowess as it sees fit. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Washington Post
2 hours ago
- Washington Post
Japan and China trade blame over Chinese fighter jets flying close to Japanese planes
TOKYO — Japan and China blamed each other on Thursday after Tokyo raised concern that a Chinese fighter jet came dangerously close to Japanese reconnaissance planes. The Chinese fighter jets took off from one of two Chinese aircraft carriers that were operating together for the first time in the Pacific, Japan's Defense Ministry said.
