Exhibitors showcase products in Toronto

At this year's Toronto Trade Show, Wan Bing said the growing popularity of Chinese baijiu reflected how far the liquor has come in the Canadian market.

"Back in 2010, there was almost no Chinese baijiu in Canada," Wan, who has been in the business for a long time, told China Daily. "Now, nearly 90 percent of famous Chinese brands are here."

Baijiu refers to liquor distilled from fermented sorghum.

The 2025 Toronto Trade Show and China-Canada Business Expansion Expo was held over the weekend in Markham, Ontario, bringing together more than 80 exhibitors from China and Canada.

Organizers said the event is one of the largest trade fairs in the Greater Toronto Area this year, featuring sectors from logistics and e-commerce to food, health products and cultural tourism.

When Wan moved from China to Canada 15 years ago, he brought with him not only a business plan but also a passion for promoting baijiu.

After years in the liquor industry in Sichuan province, he founded a company in 2010 to introduce baijiu to the Canadian market and later established the Chinese Liquor Culture Canada Association.

He added that baijiu sales through the Liquor Control Board of Ontario rose about 25 percent in the first three quarters of this year.

"Before, Chinese baijiu was hidden in the corner of the store," Wan said. "Now it's placed in the most visible spot. That shows recognition." He said he believes greater awareness of baijiu's cultural heritage will attract even more attention.

Advanced technology

For other exhibitors, the trade show was an opportunity to introduce advanced technology and unique products to Canadian buyers.

Zhou Yaohua, representing a smart warehousing solutions provider from Qingdao, Shandong province, said his team designs and installs customized storage systems.

"The technology is already widely used in China, and the market there is becoming saturated," he told China Daily. "But in Canada, traditional warehousing is outdated. Bringing our technology here has real advantages."

Yao Mengming displayed local specialties, including coffee, tea and nuts from Yunnan province. She said her company aimed to showcase the distinctive flavors of her province.

"We hope to promote Yunnan's specialty products," Yao said. "These are products with growing potential, and we want to introduce them to international markets."

Sustainability was another theme. Wang Yubin, general manager of a green enterprise from Qufu, Shandong, specializing in the development and production of fully biodegradable materials and products, presented packaging designed to replace conventional plastics.

"Our material degrades in 180 days into carbon dioxide and water," Wang told China Daily.

Lena Xu, president of the Canada-China Enterprise Overseas Service Center and the event's organizer, said the inaugural show brought together around 60 Chinese exhibitors showcasing technology, consumer products and industrial solutions.

"The content this time is very rich and full, and it can provide resources for Canadian buyers," she said.

Looking ahead, Xu pointed to opportunities in multiple industries.

"China is a major exporter in manufacturing and the light industry," she said. "Food, light industry, pet products, high technology — all of these can be developed in North America if there is demand."

Among the Canadian participants was Matteo Merla, an entrepreneur based in Hamilton, Ontario. His business involves importing trees from Germany and planting them in Canada for lumber production.

"I started two years ago with the trees, importing them from Germany to Canada," he told China Daily.

His goal in participating in the expo was to expand his network and attract investment.