London Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis on Friday welcomed the news that Prime Minister Mark Carney has finalized a new tariff deal with China.
The agreement, which drew criticism from Ontario Premier Doug Ford, would reduce tariffs on a range of Canadian agricultural and seafood exports, including canola meal, lobster and crab, while allowing about 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles into the Canadian market each year.
Lewis agreed with the federal government position that the deal will help Canadian producers unlock new markets.
“My reaction is that this is a good step in terms of diversifying where Canada is doing business,” Lewis said. “We continue to see significant challenges with our largest trading partner south of the border.”
Lewis pointed to the benefits for local producers. “There are things that are going to China that will no longer have tariffs that we really do need to have markets for,” he said. He also stressed consumer choice, noting that “up to 49,000 vehicles doesn’t mean 49,000 vehicles is what we’re going to see.”
Lewis said trade agreements often involve both benefits and drawbacks. “In every deal, there’s a little bit of give and a little bit of take.”
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, however, raised major concerns about the broader implications.
“This is going to be a big, big problem,” Ford said, adding that Canadians should consider “the real and long-term impacts of opening markets without clear protections.” Canada needs to guard against deals that don’t put Canadian workers first, he said.
Canada and China flag
(Photo/Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada)
Western University political science doctoral student Sam Routley said he sees the agreement as part of a broader shift in trade strategy.
“It’s a real change in terms of the government creating the first steps of a closer relationship with China,” he said.
Routley described the deal as “dramatic” and a possible signal to other global partners that Canada is open to negotiating new economic ties.
As reactions continue to emerge, the debate over how best to balance trade diversification with domestic interests is expected to intensify in the coming weeks.
