Chinese products go mainstream in Canada

For Canadians out shopping for a new television, computer or item of clothing, there is a pretty good chance that the product they end up buying was made in China.

According to Statistics Canada, in the first 10 months of last year, Canada imported over 42.5 billion CAD (34 billion U.S. dollars) worth of goods from China, up 4.4 billion dollars (3.5 billion U.S. dollars) year-on-year.

The largest portion of the China-Canada trade, 24 percent, was in electronics and machinery while mechanical appliances comprised another 20 percent.

The made-in-China label is so common now that it has become not only accepted by shoppers, but actually sought after by them.

Customers not only expect to buy made-in-China technologies, but actually seek out Chinese brands such as Lenovo computers or cell phones from China, said Sam Li, the marketing manager of an electronics store.

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

Joey Kwan, Aberdeen Center spokeswoman, said they have a lot of Asian brands that sell quite well.

"This is pretty much unavoidable that you know they are coming from China. 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 and we do not hear anything from them," she said.

Frank Leone, a shopper, said he did not care about where the products come from as long as they are good.

"I mean 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, easy to use and so on, it doesn't really make any difference to me," he added. Endit