"Made in China" goes mainstream in Canada

Updated: 2015-03-05 06:14

By Bian Jibu in Toronto(China Daily Canada)

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It's gotten so that anywhere Canadians go to get a new computer, television, hat or sweater, more likely than not, whatever they end up buying was made in China.

From January to October of 2014, more than 42.5 billion CAD ($34 billion) worth of goods came into Canada from China, according to Statistics Canada, an 11.5 percent increase over 2013 year-on-year.

The lion's share of the China-Canada trade, 24 percent, was in machinery and electronics, while appliances accounted for 20 percent.

The "Made-in-China" label has become so ubiquitous across Canada that it has not only been accepted by shoppers but it is actually sought out, according Xinhua News Service.

Sam Li, the marketing manager of an electronics store, said people ask for Chinese brands such as Lenovo computers or cell phones from China.

About 99 percent of the goods Li sells were made in China, including all of their top brands, he said.

"The quality of products from China is a lot better compared to 10 or 15 years ago, because there is just so much competition nowadays," Li told Xinhua.

Joey Kwan, a spokeswoman for Aberdeen Center, has noticed several Asian brands that are selling very well.

"This is pretty much unavoidable that you know they are coming from China," she said. "But we don't see any differences nor have any negative comments about the products imported from China. A lot of people are still coming back to shop with us."

Shopper Frank Leone said he didn't care where the products came from as long as they were good.

"It could be made in Canada, it could be made in China, or made anywhere else in the world. As long as it's practical and easy to use, it doesn't really make any difference to me," he said.

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