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Canada and China Strike New Trade Deal Linking EVs and Canola

Prime Minister Mark Carney meets with President of China Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China on Friday, Jan. 16, 2026.  Canada and China have reached a new tariff agreement that ties together two major sectors: electric vehicles and agricultural exports. The deal marks a notable shift in the countries’ economic relationship after years of tension. Under the arrangement, Canada will permit up to 49,000 Chinese-made electric vehicles to enter the market at the standard tariff rate. In return, China will reduce duties on Canadian canola seed to 15% by March and eliminate tariffs on canola meal, lobsters, crabs, and peas for the remainder of the year. Canadian officials describe the agreement as a pragmatic step toward stabilizing ties and expanding trade opportunities. The move could reshape Canada’s EV market by introducing more competitively priced Chinese models, while also restoring valuable access for Canadian farmers to one of their most important ...

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Grocery prices to rise by up to 4.5% in 2024, report predicts

 

The annual Canada’s Food Price Report forecasts that the average Canadian family of four will spend $700 more on food in 2024, reaching a total of $16,297.20. The report, which is produced by four Canadian universities, projects that bakery, meat and vegetables will see the highest price increases, up to 7 per cent.

The report attributes the rising food costs to several factors, including interest rates, energy costs, climate change, transportation expenses and geopolitical risk. However, it also notes that the rate of increase is slowing compared to the previous two years, when the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the food supply chain and caused inflation to spike.

Some essential items, such as dried pasta, sauces and canned goods, could become cheaper in 2024, as grocery chains compete for customers and benefit from lower commodity prices. The report also suggests that families spent less on groceries in 2023 than in 2022, possibly due to higher housing costs and debt levels.

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