BEIJING — Canada and China struck an initial trade deal on Friday that will slash tariffs on electric vehicles and canola, as both nations promised to tear down trade barriers while forging new strategic ties during Prime Minister Mark Carney's visit. The first Canadian prime minister to visit China since 2017, Carney is seeking to rebuild ties with his country's second-largest trading partner after the United States following months of diplomatic efforts. Canada will initially allow in up to 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles at a tariff of 6.1 percent on most-favoured-nation terms, Carney said after talks with Chinese leaders including President Xi Jinping. That compares with the 100 percent tariff on Chinese electric vehicles imposed under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in 2024, following similar U.S. penalties. In 2023, China exported 41,678 EVs to Canada. "This is a return to levels prior to recent trade frictions, but under an agreement that promises much more for Canadians," Carney told reporters. He later said the quota would gradually increase, reaching about 70,000 vehic