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Our Statement on Canada–China Trade Agreements
It has taken a considerable amount of effort over months to get us here, and we commend the Prime Minister, Ministers, Premiers and other members of the delegation in getting us to this place.
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This agreement is a cautious first move by both Canada and China to step back from the tariffs and trade friction that have weighed on the relationship for almost a decade. Extending reduced tariffs on Canadian canola seed, canola meal, lobsters, crabs, and peas through 2026 is significant and provides needed certainty for farmers, processors, and the agri-food supply chain. It has taken a considerable amount of effort over months to get us here, and we commend the Prime Minister, Ministers, Premiers and other members of the delegation in getting us to this place.
Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector supports one in nine Canadian jobs. It’s a monumental 7% of our of GDP annually. It’s simply fundamental to Canada’s economy and trade, with food, fuel, and fertilizer at its core. While renewed engagement with China is welcome, other parts of the agriculture sector have been shut out of the Chinese market for years and will see no relief today.
Canada is right to re-engage with the world’s second-largest market, but expanded access — particularly around EVs and advanced technology — raises real implications for Canadian manufacturers, cyber security, and our USMCA commitments. Any renewed partnership must be built on clear, enforceable rules that both sides are prepared to follow.
- Matthew Holmes, Executive Vice President and Chief of Public Policy, Canadian Chamber of Commerce
About the Canadian Chamber of Commerce — The Future of Business Success
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce is Canada’s largest and most activated business network — representing over 400 chambers of commerce and boards of trade and more than 200,000 business of all sizes, from all sectors of the economy and from every part of the country — working to create the conditions for our collective success. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce is the undisputed champion and catalyst for the future of business success. From working with government on economy-friendly policy to providing services that inform commerce and enable trade, we give each of our members more of what they need to succeed: insight into markets, competitors and trends, influence over the decisions and policies that drive business success, and impact on business and economic performance.
Media Contact
Shane Mackenzie
Vice President, Media and Stakeholder Communications
613.302.7683
smackenzie@chamber.ca
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