B.C. premier on trade mission says Japanese companies expressing interest in LNG, critical minerals
B.C. Premier David Eby is currently on a 10-day trade mission to East Asia, where he has been meeting with Japanese conglomerates who have shown interest in the province’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) and critical mineral exports. This comes at a crucial time as the global trade market faces uncertainty due to U.S. President Donald Trump’s protectionist stance and tariff threats. Eby emphasized the need for British Columbia to diversify its trade relationships, especially considering its historical reliance on the U.S. as a trade partner.
During his trip to Japan, South Korea, and Malaysia, Eby has been highlighting the province’s mining, natural resource, and softwood lumber sectors to potential investors and governments. In Osaka, Japan, Eby met with companies like Mitsubishi and Nippon Steel, who displayed a strong interest in British Columbia’s copper and nickel exports. These conglomerates have already invested in projects in the province and wanted to learn more about British Columbia’s plans for electrification, supporting the mining sector, permitting processes, and collaboration with First Nations.
Japanese companies have also expressed interest in importing critical minerals and LNG from British Columbia. Eby mentioned the $40 billion LNG Canada project in Kitimat, B.C., which recently began operations and is expected to export 14 million tonnes of natural gas annually. Japan’s new energy plan, which focuses on reducing reliance on heavy oil and transitioning to natural gas and nuclear energy, aligns well with the LNG Canada project.
When asked about the possibility of lifting the tanker ban along the North Coast to accommodate a new pipeline for western oil, Eby reiterated his support for maintaining the ban. He emphasized the government’s backing of the existing taxpayer-owned Trans Mountain Pipeline. Eby also commented on Trump’s tariff threats, highlighting the potential impact on Canadian and Japanese businesses, particularly those involved in metallurgical coal production for steel-making.
Despite the positive outlook on the Asian trade mission, the B.C. Conservatives have criticized it as a “damage control junket.” Opposition trade critic Teresa Wat pointed out the closure of 13 trade offices in Asian countries by the NDP government in 2019, stating that the province now needs to rebuild trade relationships from scratch. Eby and the rest of the B.C. delegation are scheduled to return on June 10 after concluding their engagements in East Asia.
