【Wen/Observer Net, Ruan Jiaqi】

On the third day of his visit to China, Canadian Prime Minister Marc Carney has sent a clear signal in Beijing.

According to reports from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and the South China Morning Post, on Friday (16th), Carney announced at a press conference that Canada will cancel the additional 100% tariff previously imposed on imported Chinese electric vehicles. The New York Times called it a "major policy shift."

This tariff policy started in August 2024, when the Trudeau government blindly followed U.S. policies by imposing a 100% tariff on Chinese electric vehicles and a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum products, directly worsening Sino-Canadian relations; in response, China launched an anti-discrimination investigation and included Canadian canola and other agricultural products in its retaliatory list.

Carney further explained that Canada would replace the high tariffs with an import quota system, applying a Most Favored Nation tariff rate of 6.1% for the import of 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles. The Associated Press said that this quota would increase to 70,000 over five years.

According to U.S. media statistics, the number of electric vehicles exported from China to Canada in 2023 was 41,678, with more than 80% coming from Tesla's Shanghai factory.

"This brings trade back to pre-trade war levels," however, Carney did not specify the tariff rate for imports exceeding the quota or the exact implementation time of the policy.

He also pointed out that replacing the tax with a quota could fully unlock the potential of bilateral cooperation and reduce car purchase costs for Canadian citizens, "this agreement will bring more tangible benefits to Canadians."

On January 16, Carney held a press conference in Beijing. Reuters video screenshot

At the same time, Carney revealed that Canada plans to deepen cooperation with China in the fields of clean energy storage and production to attract more related investments.

"It is expected that this agreement will drive large-scale investment from China into Canada's automotive industry within the next three years, creating high-quality jobs in Canada and accelerating the country's progress toward net-zero emissions."

He stated that if Canada wants to build a competitive domestic electric vehicle industry, it must learn from innovative partners, connect supply chains, and further expand the domestic market demand.

The adjustment in the agricultural sector also became a focus. Carney claimed that China is expected to reduce the comprehensive tariff on Canadian canola to about 15% by March of this year; additionally, Canadian canola meal, lobster, crab, and pea products will no longer be affected by Chinese countermeasures starting from March until "at least the end of this year."

Canadian media noted that this adjustment will help Canadian farmers plan their planting season. Carney also mentioned that China will implement a visa-free entry policy for Canadian citizens.

Currently, China has not publicly confirmed this information. Carney remains optimistic, stating that as Canadian farmers, fishermen, and processors fully tap into the potential of the Chinese market, the agreements are expected to release nearly $3 billion in export orders for them.

"China used to be Canada's largest export market for canola," Carney said, "our goal is not only to restore past export levels, but to exceed them."

He also pointed out that the agreement reached this time demonstrates the spirit of a "new partnership and a new era," and future cooperation models are expected to expand to more categories such as grains, legumes, lobster, pork, and pet food.

CBC commented, "This move marks Canada's return to a broader relationship by taking the role of a core agricultural partner in China."

According to Canadian media reports, Carney also responded to many sensitive topics during the press conference.

A journalist asked whether Carney thought China was "a more predictable and reliable partner" compared to the current United States.

Carney admitted that although there are still differences between Canada and China, both sides have always been able to engage in "open, stable, and straightforward dialogue," which has led to the development of bilateral relations towards a "more predictable and more effective direction."

"Canada's relationship with the United States is far more diverse and extensive than our relationship with China," he bluntly stated, "but in terms of the recent development of our relationship with China, it is indeed more predictable, and you have seen the results it has brought."

Carney added that the talks with China were "practical and full of respect."

At the press conference, Carney also reiterated his support for the One-China Principle, "Our position has always been consistent."

A reporter mentioned that Carney had previously called China the "biggest security threat" to Canada.

Carney responded that "the current world situation is becoming increasingly dangerous and divided, and the security situation is also constantly changing. As a prime minister, my responsibility is to deal with these threats by building resilience, strengthening security, and forming alliances."

CBC reported that after South Korean President Lee Jae-yong, Carney is the latest in a series of visiting leaders from various countries. Afterwards, British Prime Minister Starmer and German Chancellor Merkel are also planned to visit China in the coming months. The common goal of these countries is to repair bilateral relations and promote trade with China.

Canadian media analysis states, "The trade war led by Trump is still a huge threat to many countries around the world. Countries are seeking new markets and trade partners, and as the world's second-largest economy, China has the ability to provide irresistible opportunities for cooperation."

Several Canadian officials expressed: China is a more predictable and stable partner

According to the joint statement from the meeting between Chinese and Canadian leaders, the two leaders welcomed the progress made in recent dialogues between the two countries, agreed to strengthen exchanges at all levels, and work to achieve results in areas such as macroeconomic, trade, energy, finance, public security, cultural exchange, and multilateralism.

According to a report by the Toronto Star, in the two days before the press conference, Carney had already signed a series of agreements with China, restarting bilateral trade cooperation, with the focus on Canada's oil, natural gas, and uranium resources, as well as China's solar and wind energy technology sectors. He explicitly stated that this marked the entry of bilateral relations into a "new era."

Carney emphasized that the multiple agreements signed in Beijing will bring "immediate and sustained development" to the agriculture, energy, and financial sectors of the two countries, and he was deeply pleased with the process of advancing the new strategic partnership between the two countries.

Carney praised that these agreements will not only benefit the people of the two countries, "but also set a model for the world - even in the context of global division and turmoil, countries can still achieve positive cooperation."

"In my view, this partnership will also help improve the currently under tremendous pressure multilateral system," the Toronto Star commented, indicating that Carney's implications were clear.

Canadian Industry Minister Joyce's statements were more direct: "The current global situation is full of turbulence, and the actions of some countries have further exacerbated this chaos. Canada's goal is to cooperate with countries including China."

She pointed out, "To address the trend of rising trade protectionism, especially the protectionist policies of the United States, Canada should explore free trade paths with European and Asian countries, 'of course including China'."

The person on the right is Joy, video screenshot

Bloomberg, an American media outlet, also noticed that in addition to a comprehensive bilateral trade deepening plan announced by Canada and China on Thursday, there is another separately signed document that clearly states that Canada "welcomes Chinese enterprises investing in energy, agriculture, consumer goods, and other fields in Canada."

Canadian Natural Resources Minister Hodge and Industry Minister Joyce emphasized that Canada has a strong interest in attracting Chinese investments in renewable energy projects and revealed that they had met with executives from Chinese battery giant Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) on Thursday morning.

It is known that CATL has participated in the construction of three large grid energy storage projects in Ontario, Canada.

"The company possesses top-tier grid energy storage solutions worldwide, capable of converting intermittent renewable energy into base load power," Hodge said. If this technology can be used to promote Canada's net-zero emissions target in a more cost-effective way, "it would be good for Canada."

Joy also proposed the possibility of CATL building a factory in Canada to produce electric vehicle batteries.

She told reporters, "The relevant discussions are still in the exploratory stage, but we are willing to explore its feasibility. In the field of batteries, Canada has always maintained an open attitude of cooperation."

It is worth mentioning that during her tenure in the Trudeau government as Foreign Minister, Joyce had defined China as a so-called "increasingly destructive global force." Now she changed her stance, saying that Canada's current goal is to get the bilateral relationship back on track.

She admitted, "Compared to dialogues with some countries, including our neighbor, the discussion process this time was often more predictable and stable. Therefore, our core goal is to reach diplomatic agreements that serve Canada's highest interests."

The Toronto Star pointed out that most of the agreements signed this time are renewals of previously suspended cooperation documents due to the cooling of Sino-Canadian relations over the past eight years.

Experts analyzed that although these agreements have not yet brought immediate substantial benefits to the two countries, they have sent a clear signal: both governments have the intention to deepen the bilateral partnership and promote progress on trade issues.

Vina Nadjibulla, Vice President of Research and Strategy at the Canadian Asia-Pacific Foundation, evaluated Carney's trip, saying, "What we have gained essentially is a political breakthrough."

In her view, the preliminary agreements reached by Carney's trip are significant in creating a suitable "political climate and cooperative environment" for subsequent commercial cooperation.

Senior economist Xu Tianchen from the Economist Intelligence Unit also expressed his approval, "This is a very positive restart of Sino-Canadian relations."

He pointed out that the economies of the two countries are highly complementary, "China can benefit from Canada's agricultural and energy exports, and its industrial finished products can find broad markets in Canada."

Xu Tianchen specifically mentioned that apart from canola oil and electric vehicles, crude oil will be another important area for deepened cooperation between the two countries, "considering the current situation in Venezuela and the possible changes in Iran, China urgently needs to diversify its oil supply sources."

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