Carney to visit China next week as Canada seeks to reset strained trade ties

Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to travel to China next week, marking the first visit by a Canadian prime minister in eight years as Ottawa looks to manage a strained and complex bilateral relationship.

The Prime Minister’s Office says Carney will depart on Jan. 13 and return on Jan. 17, with meetings expected to focus on trade, energy, agriculture and international security. Officials have not yet confirmed whether Carney will hold a formal face-to-face meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the trip.

Canada–China relations have been tense in recent years, particularly following Ottawa’s decision to impose a 100 per cent tariff on Chinese-made electric vehicles, along with a 25 per cent import tax on steel and aluminum. The federal government has said those measures are aimed at protecting Canadian industries from unfair trade practices.

Beijing responded by imposing steep countermeasures on Canadian exports, including 100 per cent tariffs on agricultural products such as canola oil and peas, as well as a 25 per cent levy on pork and seafood. The tariffs have been a major concern for farmers and exporters, including producers across the Prairies who rely heavily on access to Chinese markets.

Carney and Xi last met on Oct. 31 on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea. That encounter marked the first official meeting between leaders of Canada and China since 2017 and signalled cautious efforts to re-engage after years of diplomatic friction.