Politics
Canadian canola farmers express ‘cautious optimism’ over trade agreement with China TenX News
“It’s a huge step forward, but a little disappointing at the same time.”
That’s how Stephen Vandervalk, who grows canola near Fort McLeod, Alta. and is also vice-president of the Wheat Growers Association, reacted to news of the preliminary trade deal between Canada and China.
The agreement, announced Friday, following a meeting between Prime Minister Mark Carney and Chinese President Xi Jinping, in Beijing, is expected to slash punishing tariffs on the sale of Canadian agriculture and seafood products to China, part of a tit-for-tat tariff war between the two countries.
Prime Minister Mark Carney meets with President of China Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, on Jan. 16, 2026.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
It started in the summer of 2024, when Canada announced a 100 per cent tariff on Chinese electric automobiles that Ottawa claimed were being dumped on global markets.
China responded in 2025 with tariffs of up to 100 per cent on some Canadian canola products, along with a 25 per cent levy on Canadian pork and seafood products.
Prime Minister Mark Carney, fourth right, meets with President of China Xi Jinping, fourth left, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, on Jan. 16, 2026.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
The deal announced Friday is expected to result in Beijing slashing duties on canola seed to 15 per cent by March 1, 2026, in return for Canada allowing 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles to be sold in Canada at a tariff of just 6.1 per cent. That number will increase to about 70,000 vehicles within five years.
Ottawa also expects to have tariffs on Canadian canola meal, lobsters, crabs and peas reduced or removed from March 1 until at least the end of the year.
While Vandervalk called the agreement “a huge step forward,” he also expressed “cautious optimism,” saying a 15 per cent tariff on canola meal means Canada could still struggle to be competitive with other countries, like Australia, that can sell the same products to the Chinese market.
He’s also concerned about how Americans will react to the deal because the 100 per cent tariff on Chinese EVs was put in place by both Canada and the U.S. to help protect the North American auto industry.
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“They’re our biggest trading partner for sure, they take almost all of our canola meal. When you crush canola seed, you get oil, and you get meal. So a huge market is our canola meal and oil and seed everything into the U.S., so it’s for sure much, much larger than China,” said Vandervalk.
“So if we somehow get a little bit of access to China at the expense of having potentially no access to our largest trading partner, we have huge concerns with that,” added Vandervalk.
The trade war between Canada and China prompted the Chinese government to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on the import of some Canadian canola products.
Global News
In an emailed statement, the Canola Council of Canada and Canadian Canola Growers Association called news of the deal on tariffs, “an important milestone in Canada’s trading relationship with China.”
“The Canadian canola industry has been clear since the outset that these tariffs are a political issue requiring a political solution. We are pleased to see significant progress in restoring market access for seed and meal and will continue to build on this development by working to achieve permanent and complete tariff relief, including for canola oil, moving forward,” reads the statement.
Andre Harpe, Chair of the Alberta Canola Producers, who farms near Grand Prairie, Alta., called the tentative agreement “great news.”
“I was up at three o’clock this morning looking at the announcement and I did happen to glance at the prices then and they were up quite a bit. So it was a good response to see from the market,” said Harpe.
“I’m really, really hoping things settle down a little bit, but it’s been a roller-coaster ride. It’s been absolutely terrible. The uncertainty, you know,” added Harpe.
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe (centre), was among the delegates who accompanied Prime Minister Mark Carney on his trip to China.
Global News
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, who accompanied the Prime Minister on his trip to China and spoke to Global News from there, was almost euphoric in his reaction to the agreement, calling it “a good day for Canadians.”
“This is very significant. It is going to literally allow billions of dollars of agricultural products of all kinds, whether it’s canola, pulse crops, seafood, to flow again, which was not moving in any way to our second largest trading partner in the world,” said Moe. “So this is an absolute deal of tremendous significance to not only the Canadian agriculture industry, but to the Canadian economy.”
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“Not only does this restore trade that was existing, but it definitely provides a very foundation for us build additional trade opportunities with not only a country like China, but many Asian countries in the area,” added Moe.
Federal Conservative labour critic, Kyle Seeback, who represents the riding of Dufferin-Caledon in southern Ontario, the centre of Canada’s automobile manufacturing industry, characterized the trade deal as a double-edged sword.
“I think that if you’re a canola farmer, you’re cautiously optimistic. I think if you are an auto worker in Canada, you’re extremely worried about what this is going to mean for the Canadian auto sector,” said Seeback.
He’s also concerned that, so far, China has only agreed to lower tariffs until the end of 2026.
“We’re dealing with China and China has a history of not being a reliable trading partner,” said Seeback. “So it’s always dangerous when you make these kinds of deals with China.”
“I think that this is going to come back to be viewed as an absolutely terrible decision to try and enter into a strategic alliance with China,” Seeback added. “Time will tell, but I think the liberals are going to one day deeply regret that they’ve made this decision.”
With files from The Canadian Press.
A trip to the world’s most-visited museum is about to cost Canadians significantly more.
France has hiked ticket prices at the Louvre by 45 per cent for visitors from outside the European Union, a move that is fuelling debate over so-called dual pricing and the growing backlash against overtourism.
Starting this week, adult visitors from non-EU countries, including Canada, must pay €32 to enter the Paris landmark, up from €22. That’s an increase from about $35 to $52 Canadian.
Visitors from EU countries, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, will continue to pay the lower rate.
The price hike comes as the Louvre grapples with repeated labour strikes, a high-profile daylight jewel heist last October that prompted a costly security overhaul, and years of chronic overcrowding. The museum attracts roughly nine million visitors annually.
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Some Canadian tourists told Global News they feel unfairly targeted.
“We didn’t cause the robberies or some of the other issues that happened and we are paying the consequences,” said Allison Moore, visiting Paris from Newfoundland with her daughter. “[In] Canada we don’t discriminate over pricing like that.”
Others argue tourists already shoulder higher costs simply by travelling long distances.
“In general for tourists, I think things should be a little cheaper than for local people, because we have to travel to come all the way here,” said Darla Daniela Quiroz, another Canadian visitor. “It should be equal pricing, or a little bit cheaper.”
Even some Europeans question the two-tiered system. A French tourist interviewed outside the museum said there was “no reason” to charge non-Europeans more and that the fee should be the same for everyone.
Tourism experts say the Louvre’s financial pressures help explain the decision.
“The Louvre is really cash-strapped right now and needs to do something,” said Marion Joppe, a professor at the University of Guelph. “It can’t really look to the government, which is already struggling with its own budget.”
The move also reflects a broader global pushback against mass tourism. Anti-tourism protests have spread across parts of Spain, New Zealand has increased its entry tax, and the United States recently raised national park fees for foreign visitors.
“You take Paris — it gets about 50 million tourists a year,” said Julian Karaguesian, an economist at McGill University. “That’s roughly a million a week. The city simply wasn’t built for those kinds of numbers.”
Despite the higher price, many visitors say they will still line up to see the Mona Lisa and other of the museum’s famous artworks.
“It’s one of the main attractions. It’s on everybody’s list,” Moore said. “We’re still going to go, and hopefully it will be worth it in the end.”
© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
Politics
Trump calls Canada-China deal ‘good thing’ as U.S. officials voice concern – National TenX News
Canada’s new trade deal with China is getting a mixed reaction in Washington, with U.S. President Donald Trump voicing support as administration officials warned Ottawa could regret allowing Chinese EVs into the Canadian market.
The deal signed with Beijing on Friday reverses course on 100 per cent tariffs Canada slapped on Chinese electric vehicles in 2024, which aligned with similar U.S. duties. Canada and China also agreed to reduce tariffs on canola and other products.
Asked about the deal by reporters at the White House, Trump said Prime Minister Mark Carney was doing the right thing.
“That’s what he should be doing. It’s a good thing for him to sign a trade deal. If you can get a deal with China, you should do that,” Trump said.
However, members of Trump’s cabinet expressed concern.
“I think they’ll look back at this decision and surely regret it to bring Chinese cars into their market,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said at an event with other U.S. government officials at a Ford factory in Ohio to tout efforts to make vehicles more affordable.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told reporters the limited number of vehicles would not impact American car companies exporting cars to Canada.
“I don’t expect that to disrupt American supply into Canada,” he said.
“Canada is so dependent on the United States for their GDP. Their entire population is crowded around our border for that reason. I’ll tell you one thing: if those cars are coming into Canada, they’re not coming here. That’s for sure.”
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Carney has said it’s necessary for Canada to improve trade ties and cooperation with China in light of Trump’s trade war and threats to let the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement on free trade expire.
The trade pact is up for review this summer, and Greer reiterated that the Trump administration wants to bring more auto manufacturing back to the U.S. and incentivize companies to do so.
Under the new deal with Beijing, Carney said he expects China will lower tariffs on its canola seed by March 1 to a combined rate of about 15 per cent.
Greer questioned that agreement in a separate CNBC interview.
“I think in the long run, they’re not going to like having made that deal,” he said.
He called the decision to allow Chinese EVs into Canada “problematic” and added: “There’s a reason why we don’t sell a lot of Chinese cars in the United States. It’s because we have tariffs to protect American auto workers and Americans from those vehicles.”
Greer said rules adopted last January on vehicles that are connected to the internet and navigation systems are a significant impediment to Chinese vehicles in the U.S. market.
“I think it would be hard for them to operate here,” Greer said. “There are rules and regulations in place in America about the cybersecurity of our vehicles and the systems that go into those, so I think it might be hard for the Chinese to comply with those kind of rules.”
Trump and officials like Greer have taken aim at Chinese attempts to enter the North American car market through Mexico by bypassing rules of origin under CUSMA.
The CUSMA review set for July is expected to address those loopholes that American and Canadian officials have said are being exploited by China.
Those concerns, which were also raised by the Biden administration, in part helped spur the steep tariffs on Chinese EVs, which are heavily subsidized by Beijing.
Trump, however, has also said he would like Chinese automakers to come to the United States to build vehicles.
Both Democrat and Republican lawmakers in the U.S. have expressed strong opposition to Chinese vehicles as major U.S. automakers warn China poses a threat to the U.S. auto sector.
Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno, a Republican, said at Friday’s event at the Ford plant that he was opposed to Chinese vehicles coming into the United States, and drew applause from the other government officials.
“As long as I have air in my body, there will not be Chinese vehicles sold the United States of America — period,” Moreno said.
—with files from Reuters
© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s trade mission to China is being framed as a win for British Columbia’s economy.
Carney announced a new deal with Beijing on electric vehicles and canola at the end of a high-profile trip on Friday.
“The inroads Canada has made this week are a sign that the government gets it and is showing Canadians and the world that we are open for business,” Alexa Young with the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority said.
The trade deal would allow up to 49,000 Chinese EVs into Canada yearly at a tariff rate of 6.1 per cent.
An expanded auto terminal on Annacis Island will be able to handle the additional volume of cars that could be more affordable than what is currently on the market, with prices expected to be under $40,000.
The New Car Dealers Association said in a statement to Global News that, “We look forward to reviewing the full details of this announcement and engaging constructively with governments to ensure that affordability, competition, and long-term market stability remain central considerations.”
In British Columbia, the overall reaction to the news on Friday is positive.
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“China’s economy is important,” Alex McMillan with the B.C. Chamber of Commerce said.
“Having trade deals like this — and diversifying our markets — is important. Providing certainty is important.”
There are concerns with the agreement, including privacy issues and China’s human rights record. But Ottawa’s goal is to double trade with partners outside the United States, which is a goal that would be impossible without China.
“We do want to see more trade and more diversification of our markets and know that China is an important nation and important economy, so having better trade relationships with them, I think overall is going to be good,” McMillan said.
–with files from The Canadian Press
© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
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