China and Canada Extend Trade Arrangement Through 2028, Offering Greater Certainty for Exporters

China and Canada have agreed to extend key market-access arrangements for agricultural products, seafood, steel and aluminum through the end of 2028, providing exporters on both sides with greater certainty as the two countries seek to stabilize trade relations.

The two-year extension was agreed during a meeting of the China-Canada Joint Economic and Trade Commission in Beijing on Nov. 4, according to an announcement by Global Affairs Canada.

The meeting was co-chaired by Canadian International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu and China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao. It was the first time the commission had convened at the ministerial level, according to the Canadian government.

Under the extended arrangement, Canadian canola meal, peas, lobster and crab will continue to benefit from favourable access to the Chinese market until the end of 2028. Canada will also extend remission measures covering certain Chinese steel and aluminum products that are not manufactured domestically.

The measures were originally introduced under a preliminary joint arrangement announced during Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's visit to Beijing in January 2026. That agreement addressed a series of bilateral economic and trade issues and included the restoration of market access for important Canadian agricultural, agri-food and seafood products.

The extension is significant for Canadian producers that depend on China as a major export destination. Farmers, seafood harvesters and exporters had faced uncertainty over whether the existing arrangements would remain in place after the end of 2026. The new timeline provides businesses with a longer period to plan shipments, negotiate contracts and make investment decisions.

According to Global Affairs Canada, China is Canada's second-largest single-country merchandise trading partner. Two-way merchandise trade reached 125.7 billion Canadian dollars in 2025, including 35 billion Canadian dollars in Canadian exports to China and 90.6 billion Canadian dollars in imports from China.

The Canadian government said its exports to China increased by 31.4 percent to 21.5 billion Canadian dollars in the first half of 2026. Ottawa has also set a target of increasing exports to China by 50 percent, making stable access to the Chinese market an important part of its broader trade-diversification strategy.

The arrangement also has implications for China's imports of agricultural commodities and seafood. Canadian suppliers are established participants in global markets for canola products, pulses and seafood. Continued access could help Chinese buyers maintain sourcing options while providing Canadian producers with a more predictable commercial environment.

The extension does not mean that all trade disputes between the two countries have been resolved. Rather, it preserves specific market-access measures while providing a framework for continued negotiations. The two governments will still need to address differences over tariffs, industrial policy, market access and the treatment of individual sectors.

For Chinese manufacturers, the extension of Canada's remission measures for selected steel and aluminum products may help preserve access to the Canadian market for goods that are not produced locally. For Canadian agricultural and seafood businesses, continued access to China could support sales growth and reduce uncertainty.

The agreement comes as global trade faces pressure from geopolitical tensions, protectionist policies and efforts by major economies to diversify supply chains. Its success will ultimately depend on implementation, business demand and the willingness of both governments to maintain dialogue.