Carney to visit China next week; first visit by a Canadian PM in 8 years

January 7, 2026

RED FM News Desk

Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to travel to China next week to hold high-level discussions on trade, energy, agriculture, and international security. This marks the first official visit to China by a Canadian Prime Minister in eight years.

While the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has confirmed the travel dates—with Carney scheduled to depart on January 13 and return on January 17—it has yet to confirm whether a face-to-face meeting with President Xi Jinping will take place.

Diplomatic relations between Canada and China have remained strained in recent years, largely due to escalating trade disputes. Canada recently imposed a 100 percent tariff on Chinese-made electric vehicles (EVs) and a 25 percent import tax on steel and aluminum.

In a reciprocal move, Beijing responded by hitting Canadian exports with a 100 percent tariff on various agricultural products, including canola oil and peas, alongside a 25 percent levy on pork and seafood products.

Despite these tensions, there have been signs of a diplomatic thaw. Prime Minister Carney and President Xi previously met on October 31 during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in South Korea. That encounter was the first official meeting between the leaders of the two nations since 2017.