Canadian exporters and businesses could look to Bahrain and the surrounding GCC region as lucrative markets, in the event of a tariff war between the North American country and the US, its neighbour to the south, according to a top diplomat.
During an interview with the GDN, Canadian ambassador to Bahrain Jean-Philippe Linteau discussed the relationship between the two countries, current areas of collaboration and the potential landscape for future mutual growth.
“The GCC is an area that is emerging and has more and more influence in the world, so it is important for us to continue to engage very strongly, and I would even say that maybe Canadian exporters may be encouraged to expand business beyond only the US,” Mr Linteau explained.
Last week, US President Donald J Trump signed orders imposing near-universal tariffs, as high as 25 per cent, on goods between US and Canada. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded with 25pc tariffs on $20.6 billion of American imports, which would expand to $106bn within three weeks.
The tariffs have since been delayed by one month, to allow for negotiations to continue.
According to Mr Linteau, in case US-Canada tariffs do come into effect, Canadian businesses could look to the GCC and Bahrain to expand their markets beyond North America.
In 2023, bilateral trade between Bahrain and Canada hit $172 million, with $90m in imports and $82m in exports, with Bahrain importing iron ore, industrial machinery, cereals and vehicles, and exporting aluminium.
The ambassador highlighted three main areas in which Bahrain and Canada have strong ties. “One is the political relations, because we have a lot of alignment on many issues, including regional security,” he added. “The second part is on defence and security. We have Canadian forces that are based here in Bahrain and we collaborate with Bahrain on initiatives including the Combined Task Force 150.
“And, then there is the economic, where we see the most growth happening in areas like aluminium and iron ore, as well as education, innovation, financial technologies and so on.
“For the GCC, Bahrain is a ‘gateway country’ and we will continue to work closely with the Bahrain government and the Economic Development Board to position the kingdom to take advantage of the opportunity.”
Incidentally, only last week, the GDN also reported that American companies were also looking to the Middle East for aluminium to circumvent President Trump’s potential tariffs.
Meanwhile, in regional security, Mr Linteau clarified that Canada continues to support the two-state solution adding that in this matter, the two governments’ stances are ‘almost 100pc matching’.
He added that the North American country would continue to offer humanitarian support and be present in the wider Arab and Mena region.
Amongst GCC countries, Bahrain is also home to the largest number of Canadian students studying abroad, with 150 enrolled at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland-Bahrain (RCSI). Mr Linteau highlighted this as a cornerstone of people to people relationships between the two countries.
“When people go to another country and spend a few years there to study, they usually come back shaped by that culture,” he explained.
“The 150 Canadians who are here in Bahrain studying at the RCSI are the biggest group anywhere in the Gulf and it’s an amazing asset for Bahrain to convey its culture and values to this group of very influential Canadians, since they are set to become doctors. “It is the value of the international Irish medical degree that has attracted these students because it opens the doors to practising both in the EU and North America.”
In addition, Bahrain also has a Canadian curriculum school, which Mr Linteau noted, prepares students here to enter the educational system in Canada.
Looking to the future, the ambassador noted innovation, digitisation and artificial intelligence as key areas where the two countries could collaborate in the future.
Owing to the geographical distance between the two countries, Mr Linteau highlighted services and software as easier options in which trade and collaboration is possible.
“In the traditional industries in which we collaborate, the future is about producing greener and cleaner versions of these materials, so green aluminium and steel,” he added. “Bahrain is well-positioned to move forward in these areas and these are priorities for us.”
While Canada has not announced any plans to open a dedicated embassy in Bahrain, Mr Linteau, who is also the ambassador to Oman, Saudi Arabia and Yemen noted that the North American country is committed to being present and active in the kingdom to continue nurturing the relationship between the two countries.
naman@gdnmedia.bh
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