Canada and China are extending until the end of 2028 a trade agreement that reduces tariffs and other trade barriers on Canadian agricultural and seafood products, as well as certain Chinese steel and aluminum products.
International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu announced the extension on Nov. 4, the day after holding trade discussions in Beijing with Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao.
“The arrangement has restored access for Canadian beef and lowered tariffs on canola seed, canola meal, peas, lobster and crab, unlocking billions in exports and supporting sectors that sustain more than 600,000 jobs in Canada,” Sidhu said in a Nov. 4 statement.
The agreement followed talks between Sidhu and Wentao at the Joint Economic and Trade Commission in Beijing on Nov. 3.
The extension maintains the suspension of additional Chinese tariffs on Canadian canola meal, peas, lobster and crab that took effect March 1, 2026, as well as a reduction of combined tariffs on Canadian canola seed from 85 percent to 14.9 percent.
Canada will also maintain tariff exemptions for certain Chinese steel and aluminum products that are unavailable or in short supply in Canada.
These measures, known as the Preliminary Joint Arrangement, were originally agreed upon and formalized during Prime Minister Mark Carney’s January 2026 visit to China and were set to expire at the end of 2026.
Under the broader January agreement, Canada agreed to allow up to 49,000 Chinese-made electric vehicles (EVs) annually at a tariff rate of 6.1 percent, rather than the previous 100 percent. The relief came after China initially imposed 100 percent tariffs on Canadian canola and other exports.
The extension comes nearly 10 months after Ottawa and Beijing signed a series of agreements as Carney visited Chinese leader Xi Jinping in January.
Sidhu’s visit to Beijing comes ahead of Carney’s visit to Shenzhen, China later this month to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders’ summit
Vina Nadjibulla, vice-president of research and strategy at the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, said the extension of the agreement “clears” the way for Carney’s trip to China in November to take part in the APEC summit later this month.
Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng is also scheduled to visit Vancouver on Nov. 8 and 9.
