Canada-China Trade Deal Inked

By Alex Miller

On 16 January 2026 Canada began charting a new economic course, tacking away from the US by a trade deal announced with China.  Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Chinese President Xi Jinping issued a joint statement after their meeting in Beijing, announcing a strategic partnership in trade which includes reductions or eliminations of tariffs between the two nations.  Products and commodities involved include Chinese EVs (electric vehicles), and Canadian canola seed, lobster and other seafood.  The leaders proposed a gradual increase of up to 50% in exports between the two by 2030.  The move is in direct response to tariffs imposed on both nations by US President Donald Trump, who at first seemed to praise Carney’s initiative in making the deal, but now threatens 100% tariffs on Canadian goods if it is actualized.

As ever, the skies reflect the moment in stunning detail.  With Mercury (23 Capricorn) opposed (180 degrees) Jupiter (19 Cancer), discussions and agreements (Mercury) about foreign relations (Jupiter) and international (Jupiter) trade (Mercury) were to be expected generally.  But to see the specifics we need to delve into the nitty-gritty world of asteroids.

Asteroid La Canada (4 Cancer) opposed asteroid Peking (7 Capricorn), named for the former westernized spelling of Chinese capital Beijing, sets the stage for the interaction between the two governments, once relatively inimical (opposition), but drawn together now under the aegis of US tariff impositions.  These form a T-Square (1) with a precise pairing of asteroids China and Carr (both at 8 Libra) on its fulcrum, squared (90 degrees) to each end of the polarity, here representing China and the EVs that are crucial to the deal (Carr, phonetic match for “car”). 

Asteroid Canada-Assandri (26 Virgo), another marker for Canada, further illustrates that nation’s change of direction.  Canada-Assandri is embedded at station (2), a critical juncture which represents a major turning point, new beginning, or alteration in the status quo.  Canada-Assandri turned retrograde (appearing, from our perspective, to move backwards in the heavens) on the 18^th, just two days after the deal was announced.

From there, Canada-Assandri forms a Grand Trine Kite pattern (3), with trine aspects (120 degrees) to a grouping of Mercury, the Sun and Venus (23, 26 and 28 Capricorn respectively) and Uranus (27 Taurus).  The “String” of the Kite is formed from an opposition to a pairing of Saturn (27 Pisces) and Neptune (29 Pisces).  This represents a focus (Sun) for Canada (Canada-Assandri) on dissolving (Neptune) barriers (Saturn) to trade and commerce (Mercury) and economic (Venus) discussions (Mercury) of a novel, unique, unexpected and possibly controversial (all Uranus) nature.  Uranus also rules electricity, pivotal to this story in the EV component to the deal.

Notes:  (1)  A T-Square is a dynamic pattern composed of two or more planets in opposition (180 degrees), each squared (90 degrees) a third.  It represents stress and conflict, with the fulcrum point (at the square) offering a possibility of resolution.

(2) Stations are periods when, from our perspective on Earth, a planet appears to slow its movement, come to a standstill, and reverse course.  This is an optical illusion created by the triangulation between the sun, Earth, and any third celestial body; astrologically, it represents a focusing of the energies associated with that point, and often coincides with major life events or a radical recalibration of how that point has functioned previously.

(3) A Grand Trine is a pattern comprised of three or more points, all equidistant from each other by 120 degrees.  It denotes special gifts or opportunities, but may need a “trigger” in the form of a transit to activate its potential.  A Kite is special type of Grand Trine, with one or more points opposing one of the three primary Grand Trine points.  The point in opposition is termed the “String,” and guides the operation and manifestation of the Kite itself.

Sources:  reporting from AP, NBC News; chart data from serennu.com; graphic images by author

Title Cover Image:  drawn by ChatGPT