China has extended tariff relief on Canadian canola, lobster, crab and peas for two more years through the end of 2028, Ottawa announced Wednesday, securing predictable market access for exporters as Prime Minister Mark Carney prepares to deepen trade ties with Beijing at next month’s APEC summit in Shenzhen.
The extension, confirmed during this week’s Joint Economic and Trade Commission meeting in Beijing, locks in zero tariffs on products that faced 100 per cent levies on canola meal and peas and 25 per cent on seafood since Beijing imposed them in March 2025. International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu framed the move as the engine for Ottawa’s goal to grow exports to China by 50 per cent by 2030, stating: “This extension gives farmers, producers and harvesters predictable access to the Chinese market, and it’s how we will grow our exports to China by 50 per cent by 2030 to create good-paying jobs and new opportunities for businesses across Canada.”
What Ottawa traded to secure the two-year reprieve
Under the January framework, Canada agreed to allow up to 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles annually into the domestic market at a 6.1 per cent tariff, down from the 100 per cent rate the Trudeau government imposed in 2024. Ottawa also granted improved market access for Chinese steel and aluminum products that are in short supply domestically and cannot be made by Canadian producers, a measure now extended until the end of 2028 alongside the agricultural relief, according to CBC News.
China separately cut tariffs on Canadian canola seed from 100 per cent to roughly 15 per cent for five years during that same January trip, recognizing Canada’s position as the world’s top canola exporter and China’s status as the industry’s second-largest market after the United States. Sidhu led this week’s delegation alongside Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald, deputy minister Glenn Purves and chief trade negotiator Aaron Fowler.
Which Canadian exports still face Chinese levies
Not all sectors secured relief. Chinese tariffs remain at 25 per cent on Canadian pork, shrimp and geoduck clams, according to The Globe and Mail. Chris White, president of the Canadian Meat Advocacy Office in Beijing, said industry has been pressing Ottawa to achieve tariff relief for products where levies still weigh down exports. Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson welcomed the seafood extension, stating: “I’m pleased the fishing industry gets this support and we’ve got certainty going forward.”
Tariff status on key Canadian exports to China
| Product | Previous Tariff | Current Status | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canola meal | 100% | 0% (paused) | Until end of 2028 |
| Peas | 100% | 0% (paused) | Until end of 2028 |
| Lobster and crab | 25% | 0% (paused) | Until end of 2028 |
| Pork, shrimp, geoduck | 25% | 25% (unchanged) | Ongoing |
Why this matters for the global trade map
The deal arrives as Canada actively diversifies its trade relationships amid ongoing friction with the United States. Beijing imposed its original tariffs in March 2025 in direct response to Ottawa’s duties on Chinese steel, aluminum and electric vehicles, creating a tit-for-tat escalation that threatened billions in agricultural exports. By pausing those levies, China’s Commerce Minister Wang Wentao told Sidhu that Beijing wants to “shorten a list of problems and lengthen a list of co-operation,” signaling a willingness to consolidate ties in traditional sectors like energy and agriculture while expanding into advanced manufacturing and clean energy.
Saskatchewan producers, represented by the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan, have emphasized that stable market access drives long-term investment decisions in an export-oriented province. APAS met directly with Chinese Embassy officials in Ottawa this week to press for exactly this kind of predictability, according to SaskToday. For Prairie farmers, the two-year window means they can plant with confidence rather than hedging against sudden tariff reinstatement.
But there is a catch. The extension covers only specific commodities. Until pork and other seafood secure similar relief, Canadian exporters remain vulnerable to Chinese trade pressure in a market where demand for protein continues to grow, and where Beijing has shown it can weaponize market access in trade disputes.
Carney’s Shenzhen summit looms later this month
The announcement sets the stage for Carney’s planned visit to Shenzhen later this month for the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation summit, where he will meet Chinese leadership face-to-face. The two-year extension removes a year-end deadline that had cast uncertainty over harvest planning for Prairie farmers and Atlantic fishers alike, as The Lethbridge Herald reported. Whether Ottawa can secure relief for the remaining 25 per cent tariffs before the 2028 deadline remains open following the strategic partnership announced in January.
