Overview
- Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in Beijing for a four-day trip, the first by a Canadian leader in nearly a decade, to try to stabilize relations and expand non‑U.S. trade.
- Carney is scheduled to meet Premier Li Qiang and President Xi Jinping as part of talks focused on easing recent trade barriers.
- Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said negotiations on reducing Chinese tariffs on Canadian canola have been productive and are continuing.
- Media reports say negotiators are discussing a reciprocal arrangement that could see Canada reduce its 100% tariff on Chinese EVs in exchange for China easing restrictions on canola and seafood, though officials caution any move would likely be limited or phased.
- Domestic and geopolitical pressures shape the talks, with prairie producers seeking market access, Ontario’s auto sector opposing EV tariff changes, and President Trump’s tariffs driving Canada’s push to diversify.