Ottawa confirmed on 7 January 2026 that Prime Minister Mark Carney will travel to China from 13–17 January—the first such visit by a Canadian leader since 2017. The mission aims to expand co-operation in energy, agriculture and supply-chain security while easing tensions that have hindered business travel between the two nations.
For corporate mobility programmes, the trip could pave the way for faster processing of Chinese visas for Canadian executives and the resumption of additional air routes suspended during the diplomatic freeze of 2019–24. Companies with operations in agri-food and critical minerals should watch for new memoranda of understanding that may include streamlined entry procedures for technical staff.
![Prime Minister Carney to Visit China, Signalling Thaw in Bilateral Travel and Trade]()
The visit follows China’s imposition of preliminary anti-dumping duties on Canadian canola and Canada’s 100 % tariff on Chinese electric vehicles. Mobility managers should therefore continue monitoring for retaliatory customs or immigration measures even as talks progress.
If the visit succeeds, federal officials have hinted at reviving the long-stalled Canada-China Air Transport Agreement review, which could increase bilateral flight frequencies by summer 2026—critical for project teams facing current capacity constraints.
For corporate mobility programmes, the trip could pave the way for faster processing of Chinese visas for Canadian executives and the resumption of additional air routes suspended during the diplomatic freeze of 2019–24. Companies with operations in agri-food and critical minerals should watch for new memoranda of understanding that may include streamlined entry procedures for technical staff.
The visit follows China’s imposition of preliminary anti-dumping duties on Canadian canola and Canada’s 100 % tariff on Chinese electric vehicles. Mobility managers should therefore continue monitoring for retaliatory customs or immigration measures even as talks progress.
If the visit succeeds, federal officials have hinted at reviving the long-stalled Canada-China Air Transport Agreement review, which could increase bilateral flight frequencies by summer 2026—critical for project teams facing current capacity constraints.
Source: Reuters
