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If the Chinese can't buy U.S. products, they'll buy them from European countries and then develop stronger economic ties with France and Germany and perhaps side more with those countries when international issues flare up.

Clearly, the Chinese need the resources, but I don't think they want to clash with the industrial world which happens to be the market for their goods.

We need the Chinese to - you know, spend more, save less - consume more and not be so focused on exports. There are big changes we need in the world.

China is an area where we need to be present. Lots of companies want to supply their products to China.

When America stopped importing from China, China stopped importing from the rest of the world. This affects Asian countries as well as Australia, Brazil, and other suppliers of raw materials.

A country like France now does two-thirds of its trade within the euro zone.

China saves too much, produces too much, sells too much to Americans and consumes too little.

A stronger yuan could lead to greater Chinese asset accumulation in the U.S. and elsewhere.

China should be developing through the various foreign investments it receives. I hope for its level-headed and rational understanding that anything to discourage that is a disservice to itself.

In 1988, federal data showed a modest China-trade surplus of $1.6 billion in Canada's favour.