Canada returns to CIIE as guest country of honor, boosting trade

Editor's note: Zhang Jing is the editor-in-chief of Maclmlen Studio.The article reflects the author's views and not necessarily those of CGTN.

Canada returns to the China International Import Expo (CIIE) as a Guest Country of Honor, highlighting new opportunities for bilateral economic cooperation as Ottawa seeks to diversify its export markets and strengthen commercial ties with China.

The ninth CIIE will take place in Shanghai from November 5 to 10, 2026, with Canada and Sri Lanka serving as the Guest Countries of Honor. Canada previously held this role at the inaugural expo in 2018.

According to China's Ministry of Commerce, this year's expo is expected to attract participants from 162 countries, regions and international organizations, including 4,142 overseas exhibitors. The total exhibition area is expected to exceed 440,000 square metres for the first time, with more than 370,000 square metres dedicated to commercial exhibitions.

Canada's commercial exhibition area is also expected to reach a record high. Canadian businesses will showcase products across sectors including agri-food, consumer goods and natural health products. In the agri-food sector, nearly 60 Canadian companies are expected to participate in an exhibition area exceeding 500 square metres, organized in cooperation with the Consulate General of Canada in Shanghai.

For Canadian exporters, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, the CIIE provides opportunities to meet Chinese buyers, establish distribution networks and develop long-term business relationships.

In an interview at a reception hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Canada to celebrate the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, Kody Blois, parliamentary secretary to the Prime Minister of Canada, highlighted the importance of CIIE for Canadian businesses.

Blois said that CIIE is obviously an important event for the whole world that's looking to engage with opportunities in China. "Last year we had our largest Canadian delegation ever. We certainly encourage Canadian businesses to take up the opportunities that we have as a government, as part of our pavilion, as part of that showcase," he noted. 

Blois also emphasized the importance of helping Canadian businesses better understand the Chinese marketplace and identify new export opportunities.

Canada's renewed participation comes amid significant growth in its merchandise exports to China, although bilateral trade performance remains uneven.

According to a September 2026 report by the Canada China Business Council (CCBC), prepared in collaboration with the University of Alberta's China Institute, bilateral merchandise trade reached CA$ 66.6 billion (around 318.8 billion yuan or $47.7 billion) in the first half of 2026, up 3.6% year on year.

Canadian exports to China rose 30.1% to CA$ 21.74 billion, while imports from China declined 5.8% to CA$ 44.86 billion. The contrasting trends indicate that bilateral trade growth was driven primarily by stronger Canadian exports.

Energy and mineral products accounted for much of the increase. Energy represented 35.8% of Canadian domestic exports to China, with export value rising 81.8% year on year in the first half of 2026. Metal ores and non-metallic minerals accounted for another 22.6%, growing by 29%.

Together, these categories represented 58.4% of Canadian domestic exports to China. Crude oil exports reached CA$ 5.96 billion, while copper ores and concentrates totaled CA$ 2.64 billion.

Consumer goods exports also increased 29.9% to CA$1.06 billion, suggesting potential for growth beyond traditional resource industries.

These figures highlight both the strength and limitations of Canada's export performance. While resource exports have expanded rapidly, broader diversification will require more industries to establish a sustained presence in the Chinese market.

For decades, the United States has remained Canada's largest trading partner and principal export destination. However, changes in US tariffs and trade policies have reinforced Canada's efforts to develop commercial relationships beyond North America.

Prime Minister Mark Carney's government has emphasized economic resilience, investment and export diversification. China, with its large consumer market and extensive manufacturing and distribution networks, represents one potential destination for Canadian businesses seeking new opportunities.

Following renewed high-level economic engagement in January 2026, the Canadian government established a target of increasing exports to China by 50% by 2030. Global Affairs Canada reaffirmed that objective in March.

The target provides a policy framework for expanding trade in sectors such as energy, agriculture, clean technology and consumer products. CIIE offers a practical platform to support that ambition, although market access, regulatory requirements and commercial competitiveness will remain critical.

Canada's seafood industry illustrates both the opportunities and challenges of expanding exports to China.

With the world's longest coastline and an established seafood harvesting and processing industry, Canada supplies a wide range of products to international markets. China is one of the world's largest seafood-consuming markets and an important centre for seafood processing.

In an interview about Canada's participation in CIIE, Jason McLinton, president and CEO of the Fisheries Council of Canada, expressed optimism about the opportunities for Canadian seafood exporters.

"I think that Canada's position as guest country of honor offers an invaluable opportunity for seafood companies to showcase their products to a very large and important market and to help make those connections between Chinese buyers and Canadian seafood harvesters and processors," McLinton said.

He said that Chinese buyers have shown strong interest in Canadian wild-caught seafood, including cold-water shrimp, spot prawns, sea cucumbers, geoduck, turbot, Greenland halibut and surf clams, adding that cooperation extends beyond direct sales. Some Canadian seafood exported to China undergoes further processing, supporting economic activity and employment in both countries.

McLinton also stressed that successful trade depends on market access and trusted business-to-business relationships. International exhibitions such as CIIE can help connect Canadian producers and processors with Chinese buyers, creating opportunities for sustained commercial cooperation.

Nevertheless, market access improvements do not always produce immediate export growth. According to the CCBC report, Canadian lobster exports remained below their first-half 2025 level despite changes in trade conditions, illustrating the uneven recovery across seafood categories.

Agriculture offers another area of potential growth. During the first half of 2026, Canadian canola seed exports to China increased 19.4% to $CA 1.42 billion, while pea exports rose 39.6% to $CA 282 million.

Frozen boneless beef exports also recovered significantly following restored market access. These developments demonstrate how changes in trade measures can influence export performance.

Beyond agriculture and seafood, opportunities may emerge in consumer products, healthcare, clean technology and other higher-value industries. Canada's strengths in natural resources, critical minerals, agricultural technology and research could complement China's manufacturing capabilities and consumer demand.

However, tariffs, inspection requirements, regulatory differences and transportation costs continue to influence commercial decisions. Building sustainable partnerships will require businesses to navigate these challenges while responding to changing market conditions.

Canada's return to CIIE comes at a significant moment in its trade diversification strategy. Strong export growth during the first half of 2026 demonstrates the importance of China as a market for Canadian resources, while the expo provides opportunities to expand commercial engagement into additional sectors.

The ultimate measure of success will not be the size of Canada's exhibition space or the number of participating companies, but whether new contacts lead to purchase orders, reliable distribution networks and lasting business partnerships.

As Canada works toward its goal of increasing exports to China by 50% by 2030, the ninth CIIE will offer an opportunity to assess how renewed economic engagement can translate into measurable trade growth and a more diversified export structure.