Extra tariffs on Canada to be suspended

China will suspend additional tariffs imposed on certain imports from Canada after recent consultations led to an arrangement to resolve bilateral trade issues between the two countries, the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council announced on Friday.

The revised measures will take effect on Sunday, and remain in force until Dec 31, said the commission in an online notice.

The move follows Ottawa's adjustment of some of its tariff measures, which had previously targeted Chinese electric vehicles as well as steel and aluminum products. Beijing had responded with countermeasures, including additional duties on selected Canadian products such as peas and lobsters, after launching an anti-discrimination investigation.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce said that in light of progress made through bilateral consultations and Canada's partial adjustments to its tariff policies, China has decided to lift additional tariffs imposed as anti-discriminatory measures on some Canadian imports.

In a separate statement, the ministry official stressed that China stands ready to work with Canada to promote the sound, stable and sustainable development of bilateral economic and trade relations.

During his official visit to China in mid-January, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada is willing to expand practical cooperation with China across multiple sectors. The two countries signed agreements covering trade, customs, energy, construction and cultural exchanges.

Against this backdrop, the Canadian government announced earlier this month that it will leverage existing and new trade agreements — including the recent EV cooperation arrangements with China — to catalyze massive new investment in the sector and diversify the country's auto export markets.

Analysts said the tariff adjustment signals a pragmatic step by both countries to ease trade frictions and restore policy predictability for businesses on both sides.

Wang Yiwei, director of Renmin University of China's Institute of International Affairs, said that improved stability in bilateral trade rules is expected to support supply chain planning and encourage businesses to maintain long-term investment commitments.

Chen Jianwei, a researcher at the University of International Business and Economics' Academy of China Open Economy Studies in Beijing, said, "For China and Canada, deeper cooperation in emerging sectors such as electric vehicles, clean energy and agri-food trade could help diversify bilateral commerce and create new growth drivers, even as global trade faces rising protectionism and geopolitical uncertainty."

Zhejiang province-based Ningbo JF Furniture Co said the adjustment would benefit its business, noting that its overseas shipments reached 534 million yuan ($77.87 million) in 2025, with Australia, Canada and Malaysia being its top markets.

Chu Jiangwen, the company's foreign trade director, said stable China-Canada economic and trade relations will provide greater certainty for businesses on both sides.

zhongnan@chinadaily.com.cn