China Extends Tariff Relief on Canadian Lobster, Crab, Peas and Canola Meal

China has extended tariff relief on four Canadian farm and seafood products for two more years. Canadian International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu announced the extension in a statement issued from Beijing.

The reduced rates on lobster, crab, peas and canola meal were set to expire on Dec. 31 of this year. They now run to the end of 2028, according to The Globe and Mail.

Tariffs are taxes on imported goods. The suspended Chinese tariffs include 100 per cent levies on Canadian peas and canola meal, and 25 per cent levies on Canadian lobster and crab. Canola meal is a byproduct of canola crushing that is used as animal feed.

Sidhu took part in a meeting in Beijing of the Joint Economic and Trade Commission (JETC), a joint trade body, with Chinese officials. The extension was tied to a Canadian commitment. Canada agreed to extend, until the end of 2028, remission measures on some Chinese steel and aluminum products. Remission means refunds on tariffs. Canada began offering refunds on several types of Chinese steel that it does not produce domestically in 2025.

The arrangement traces back to Prime Minister Mark Carney's visit to China in January, when he announced a new strategic partnership with Beijing. At that time, Reuters reported that the tariff move was expected to unlock nearly $3 billion in export orders for Canadian farm and fish products.

China's suspension of tariffs on Canadian canola meal, peas, lobster and crab took effect on March 1, 2026, according to Fisheries and Oceans Canada. The initial removal of tariffs on lobster and crab was scheduled to last until the end of 2026.