BEIJING - Canada and China have agreed to a two-year extension until the end of 2028 of the favourable market access provided under the Preliminary Joint Arrangement for Canadian canola meal, peas, lobsters and crab, the Honourable Maninder Sidhu, Minister of International Trade, announced November 4, 2026.
The extension was agreed to at the Joint Economic and Trade Commission (JETC) meeting in Beijing, which Minister Sidhu co-led with China’s Minister of Commerce, Wang Wentao. This is the first time the JETC has been held at the ministerial level.
These measures were first introduced under the Preliminary Joint Arrangement on Addressing Bilateral Economic and Trade Issues, announced during Prime Minister Carney’s visit to Beijing in January 2026. The arrangement addressed restored market access for key Canadian agriculture, agri-food and seafood products. In January 2026, following the Prime Minister’s visit, China also restored market access for Canadian beef.
“The agreement I reached this week at the Joint Economic and Trade Commission extends the Preliminary Joint Arrangement until the end of 2028, building on what Prime Minister Carney and I secured in Beijing in January. The arrangement has restored access for Canadian beef and lowered tariffs on canola seed, canola meal, peas, lobster and crab, unlocking billions in exports and supporting sectors that sustain more than 600,000 jobs in Canada. This extension gives farmers, producers and harvesters predictable access to the Chinese market, and it’s how we will grow our exports to China by 50 per cent by 2030 to create good-paying jobs and new opportunities for businesses across Canada,” Minister Sidhu said.
Canada will extend to the end of 2028 previous remission measures covered by the original Preliminary Joint Arrangement for certain Chinese steel and aluminum products not made in Canada. Canada will continue discussions with China to identify opportunities to deliver on the government’s target of increasing Canadian exports by 50 per cent to China.
“Canada has what the world wants, and we remain committed to working with partners in China to support mutually beneficial trade, increase technical cooperation, strengthen people-to-people connections, and create more opportunities for prosperity and growth. This extension is good news for Canadian farmers, ranchers, and workers across the full agriculture and agri-food value chain,” said Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.
“Canada’s fish and seafood harvesters catch the best seafood in the world, and their work drives rural and coastal communities across the country. Last week in China, I met with government officials and industry leaders to make the case for Canada as a trusted supplier. Today’s announcement keeps Canadian lobster and crab moving into one of our largest markets. The dialogue with China continues, and I will keep promoting Canadian fish and seafood around the world,” said Joanne Thompson, Minister of Fisheries.
For Surrey and B.C., the extension matters because the province’s agri-food and seafood exporters ship through the region’s ports and supply chains, and predictable access to China, one of Canada’s largest trading partners, supports jobs in farming, fishing, processing and transport. Minister Sidhu, who represents Brampton East and is a prominent South Asian voice in the federal cabinet, co-led the Beijing meetings as part of the government’s wider push to diversify Canada’s trade beyond the United States.
(Source: Global Affairs Canada, November 4, 2026)
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