Trade between China and Canada hit record levels in 2022, with imports breaking the $100-billion mark for the first time, Statistics Canada data show.

Economists and others say businesses are looking beyond political tensions between the two countries, as demand ramps up and established supply chains reassert themselves in a post-pandemic world.

James Brander, an economics professor at the University of British Columbia91裸聊视频檚 Sauder school of business, said in the absence of government policies directing otherwise 91裸聊视频� such as those currently restricting trade with Russia 91裸聊视频� companies would not prioritize politics.

91裸聊视频淥f course, yes, there are tensions. But economic or trade flows, and economic activity in general, isn91裸聊视频檛 affected very much by the political tensions unless there is some explicit policy,91裸聊视频� said Brander.

The Statistics Canada data show Canada imported a record $100,027,968,000 of goodsfrom China last year, up 16 per cent from $86 billion in 2021.

The biggest category of imports in 2022 was consumer goods, at $31 billion, followed by electronic and electrical equipment, worth $28 billion.

The data show Canadian exports to China also reached a historic high of $27.9 billion, recovering from a slump that followed the 2018 arrest of Chinese Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou and China91裸聊视频檚 detention of Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig.

China last year lifted a three-year ban on Canadian canola that had been imposed after the arrest of Meng, who has since returned to China.

But tensions between Ottawa and Beijing remain high amid allegations of Chinese interference in Canadian elections and government confirmation of Chinese surveillance operations.

Anastasia Ufimtseva, a program manager at the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, said that although economics and politics are 91裸聊视频渧ery tied91裸聊视频� together, it could take a long time for them to become aligned.

In the meantime, businesses will abide by global trade dynamics, and seek cost-effective solutions, she said.

91裸聊视频淧otentially in the future, we might observe the changes in trade, they might trickle down, but we still need to be cautious about all the factors that businesses take into account when they form the decision.91裸聊视频�

Ufimtseva said it isn91裸聊视频檛 easy for businesses to find alternatives to China, the second-largest economy in the world.

91裸聊视频淒espite a lot of countries saying that post-pandemic, we want to establish alternative supply chain structure, it91裸聊视频檚 costly and difficult to switch if your business was established, you have your suppliers. It will take such a long time to find alternatives to build that infrastructure,91裸聊视频� said Ufimtseva.

She said existing supply chains had stabilized after pandemic disruptions.

Daniel Trefler, an economist at the University of Toronto, said manufacturing supply chains can91裸聊视频檛 be moved easily.

91裸聊视频淥f course, that91裸聊视频檚 extremely difficult to do,91裸聊视频� said Trefler. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 impossible to do in a short period of two, three, four years.91裸聊视频�

China91裸聊视频檚 consulate in Vancouver last week rejected a report in the Globe and Mail newspaper describing alleged efforts to oust candidates seen as unfriendly to Beijing. The consulate said the report was 91裸聊视频渟mearing and discrediting91裸聊视频� China.

The Defence Department and Canadian Armed Forces, meanwhile, confirmed last week that they were aware of recent efforts by China to conduct surveillance operations in Canadian airspace and waters.

91裸聊视频擭ono Shen, The Canadian Press