Overview
- Prime Minister Mark Carney met President Xi Jinping in Beijing, the first visit by a Canadian leader since 2017, and announced a new strategic partnership.
- The two sides held a signing ceremony for multiple memorandums of understanding covering energy cooperation, agri‑food and animal health, wood construction, culture, and public‑safety cooperation.
- Reporting diverged on tariff outcomes, with some statements outlining Canada lowering EV duties to a 6.1% MFN rate for up to 49,000 cars and China cutting canola tariffs toward about 15% by March 1, while other coverage said talks continued without a finalized deal.
- Carney and his ministers held closed‑door sessions with major firms including Alibaba, China National Petroleum, CATL, Primavera Capital and ICBC to spur trade and investment.
- Carney said Canada would not compromise on human rights or concerns over election interference even as both governments seek quick progress in agriculture, energy and finance.