Canada and China extend agricultural and seafood trade agreement until 2028

BEIJING — Canada and China have agreed to extend preferential market access for several Canadian agricultural and seafood products until the end of 2028, strengthening bilateral commercial relations as Ottawa seeks to diversify its international trade partnerships.

International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu announced the two-year extension on Wednesday following meetings with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao in Beijing.

The agreement preserves favourable access for Canadian canola meal, peas, lobster and crab, supporting agricultural producers, seafood harvesters and exporters seeking greater stability in the Chinese market.

In exchange, Canada will maintain existing tariff-remission measures for certain Chinese steel and aluminum products that are not manufactured domestically.

The arrangement builds on a preliminary trade agreement reached during Prime Minister Mark Carney’s January 2026 visit to China, which helped restore market access for several Canadian agricultural commodities, including beef.

China remains Canada’s second-largest individual-country merchandise trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching approximately $125.7 billion in 2025.

The federal government has established a target of increasing Canadian exports to China by 50 per cent by 2030, reflecting its broader strategy of reducing economic dependence on the United States.

For Canadian farmers and seafood producers, the extension provides additional certainty amid continuing international trade disputes and growing competition in global agricultural markets.