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Strategic Lens

Canada and China

First country

Second country

In 2025, Canada sold USD 25.1 billion of goods to China and bought USD 64.9 billion from it. Both are members of the G20 and APEC. Their agreement score in UN General Assembly voting was 48 percent in 2023, and 48 percent on average over 2019 to 2023. In 2024, 23 thousand people born in Canada lived in China, and 772 thousand people born in China lived in Canada.

Benefits

  • BothTwo-way trade in mineral fuels and oils grew about 7.7 times, from USD 1.00 billion in 2019 to USD 7.69 billion in 2025.
  • BothTwo-way trade in critical minerals and metals grew 159 percent, from USD 1.05 billion in 2019 to USD 2.70 billion in 2025.
  • BothTrade in pharmaceutical products runs both ways in similar amounts: Canada sold USD 270 million and China sold USD 203 million in 2025.

Constraints

  • BothThe two countries' customs reports differ on goods sold by Canada to China in 2025: Canada reports USD 25.1 billion and China reports USD 41.5 billion.
  • BothFlows are one-sided: in 2025, Canada sold USD 7.37 billion of mineral fuels and oils, against USD 321 million the other way.
  • BothFlows are one-sided: in 2025, Canada sold USD 2.68 billion of critical minerals and metals, against USD 23.4 million the other way.

Sources: UN Comtrade (public preview API), annual goods trade, HS classification (retrieved 26 September 2026); Wikidata, statements on membership (property P463) (retrieved 26 September 2026); United Nations General Assembly voting data (Voeten, Strezhnev and Bailey), agreement scores (retrieved 25 September 2026); UN DESA International Migrant Stock 2024 (retrieved 25 September 2026)

Last updated on 26 September 2026

At a glance

Goods trade, both ways
USD 89.9 billion
2025, as reported by Canada
Canada to China
USD 25.1 billion
2025, as reported by Canada
China to Canada
USD 64.9 billion
2025, as reported by Canada

What connects Canada and China

Economy

Trade in goodsIn 2025, Canada sold USD 25.1 billion of goods to China and bought USD 64.9 billion from it.

Resources

EnergyIn 2025, Canada sold USD 7.37 billion of mineral fuels and oils to China and bought USD 321 million from it.Critical mineralsIn 2025, Canada sold USD 2.68 billion of critical minerals and metals to China and bought USD 23.4 million from it.Agriculture and foodIn 2025, Canada sold USD 4.74 billion of agricultural and food products to China and bought USD 2.13 billion from it.FertiliserIn 2025, Canada sold USD 335 million of fertilisers to China and bought USD 12.2 million from it.

Industry

Supply chains and manufacturingIn 2025, Canada sold USD 867 million of machinery, vehicles and iron and steel to China and bought USD 14.7 billion from it.TechnologyIn 2025, Canada sold USD 315 million of electrical and electronic equipment to China and bought USD 14.8 billion from it.Pharma and healthIn 2025, Canada sold USD 270 million of pharmaceutical products to China and bought USD 203 million from it.

Security

Defence and armsIn 2025, China sold USD 15.7 million of arms and ammunition to Canada.Nuclear and spaceIn 2025, Canada sold USD 17.6 million of nuclear materials, reactors and spacecraft to China.

Diplomacy

Multilateral alignmentBoth are members of the G20 and APEC. Their agreement score in UN General Assembly voting was 48 percent in 2023, and 48 percent on average over 2019 to 2023.Diaspora and mobilityIn 2024, 23 thousand people born in Canada lived in China, and 772 thousand people born in China lived in Canada.

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