Exchange electric vehicles for canola? Kenny quietly begins his visit to China, and Canadian farmers hope China will show leniency!

On January 13, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Kenny quietly set off for China. This trip may seem low-key, but it carries significant weight. It is the first official visit to China by a Canadian prime minister in eight years. A notion has started to circulate in Canada: canceling the high tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles in exchange for China easing restrictions on Canadian canola products.

In 2024, under the leadership of then-Prime Minister Trudeau, Canada followed some Western countries in imposing tariffs as high as 100% on Chinese electric vehicles, while also imposing restrictions on aluminum and steel products.

In response, China launched countermeasures against Canadian canola and related agricultural products at the beginning of 2025, including the imposition of tariffs and stricter inspection and quarantine standards. It should be noted that canola is an important export commodity for Canada, and China had long been its largest buyer.

According to data from the Canadian Statistics Bureau, before the restrictions were implemented, the annual value of canola exports to China exceeded 2 billion Canadian dollars. If the Chinese market "shuts its gates," pressure on Canada's agricultural sector would sharply increase, especially in the central and western agricultural provinces, where farmers' incomes would be directly affected.

Thus, the newly appointed Kenny began reassessing Canada's trade strategy toward China. Unlike his predecessor's hardline stance, Kenny's team emphasizes "pragmatic diplomacy." Before this visit to China, Canada had already sent clear signals: willing to lift tariffs on electric vehicles exported to China, using this as a bargaining chip to push China to lift restrictions on canola. For Canada, this is not simply a matter of "admitting fault," but rather a calculation based on real interests.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1854275550664714/

Statement: The article represents the views of the author alone.