China extends tariff relief for Canadian canola, lobster and crab

The federal government announced on Wednesday that China will extend its soon-to-expire tariff-free treatment for some Canadian agricultural and seafood products for another two years.

Deal means tariffs on agricultural and seafood products paused until end of 2028

Peter Zimonjic · CBC News

· Posted: Nov 04, 2026 1:02 PM EST | Last Updated: 24 minutes ago

Listen to this article

Estimated 2 minutes

The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.

The federal government announced on Wednesday that China will extend its soon-to-expire tariff-free treatment for some Canadian agricultural and seafood products for another two years.

After Prime Minister Mark Carney's January trip to Beijing, China struck a deal with Ottawa that saw it pause its 100 per cent tariffs on Canadian canola meal and peas, and 25 per cent tariffs on lobster and crab.

That deal, which took effect in March, promised to keep tariffs off those products only until the end of 2026.

"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," International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu said in a statement. 

• Canada reaches tariff-quota deal with China on EVs, canola

• Canadian canola has seen some tough years. This could be one of its best

During that January trip, Carney also got Beijing to cut tariffs on canola seed imports from 100 per cent to about 15 per cent for a period of five years.

Canada is the top global exporter of canola and China is the industry's second-largest market after the U.S.

When he signed that initial agreement, Carney made concessions of his own, agreeing to allow up to 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles per year into the Canadian market with a tariff rate of 6.1 per cent.

WATCH | Fisheries minister on tariff news:

'Great relief' in Canada's fishing sector as China lifts lobster and crab tariffs: minister

1 hour ago|

Duration

1:35

Minister of Fisheries Joanne Thompson said on Wednesday that China's tariffs on Canadian lobster and crab will be lifted for an additional two years. 'I'm pleased the [fishing] industry gets this support and we've got certainty going forward,' Thompson said.

That brought the tariff on Chinese-made EVs down from the 100 per cent level set by the Trudeau government in 2024. China had hiked its tariffs on Canadian goods in response.

The January deal also saw Canada grant improved market access for certain Chinese steel and aluminum products that are in short supply in Canada and cannot be made by Canadian producers.

The federal government announced on Wednesday that it will also extend its market access for those steel and aluminum products until the end of 2028.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Peter Zimonjic is a senior writer for CBC News who reports for digital, radio and television. He has worked as a reporter and columnist in London, England, for the Telegraph, Times and Daily Mail, and in Canada for the Ottawa Citizen, Torstar and Sun Media. He is the author of Into The Darkness: An Account of 7/7, published by Vintage.