While some provincial leaders have been quietly pushing for a reciprocal easing of trade restrictions, Ontario Premier Doug Ford has taken a decidedly harder line. He has made it clear that he does not support lifting the tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles under any circumstances.

Hodgson also said Canada is open to more Chinese investment in its energy projects, noting that an arm of China National Petroleum Corp. has a sizable stake in the massive LNG Canada export terminal, and other Chinese firms have holdings in Alberta’s oilsands.

The prime minister is seeking new markets for Canadian goods and to mend relations with China after years of deep acrimony between the two nations.

Canada was one of the first Western countries to recognize communist China, establishing ties in 1970 under Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.