Visit is set as Canada seeks new markets for its energy, US seizes another tanker
CTV News reports that Prime Minister Mark Carney will visit China next week, from January 13 to 17.
The visit is set with the goal of improving trade relations between Canada and China. The Prime MInister's Office told CTV news that the visit will cover trade, energy, agriculture, and international security.
This visit, the first by a Canadian Prime Minister since 2017, comes after the United States forcibly removed Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro, explicitly stating that they will exploit that country's oil resources. The move has angered China, which imports a significant amount of oil from Venezuela, after the Trump administration said it had told Venezuela to divert supplies from the Chinese market. China imported 389,000 barrels of Venezuelan oil per day in 2025.
President Trump said on Tuesday that Venezuela would turn over 30-50 million barrels of previously sanctioned oil, intially destined for China, to the US. That oil is set to be sold at market prices. CNBC reports that according to sources inside the White House, oil sales from Venezuela to the United States will continue indefinitely.
On Wednesday, the United States confirmed it had siezed another tanker in the Atlantic Ocean it says was linked to Venezuelan oil.
Canada has also felt shocks from the ousting of Maduro, with Canadian energy stocks falling somewhat as investors predicted a more saturated US market for Canadian crude. Late in 2025, Prime Minister Carney also announced the pathway for a new pipeline from Alberta to northern British Columbia, which would be aimed at exporting to Asian markets.
