EXCLUSIVE-Chinese importer buys first Canadian canola cargo in months after Carney visit, sources say

By Ella Cao and Naveen Thukral

BEIJING/SINGAPORE, Jan 19 (Reuters) - A Chinese importer bought one Panamax cargo of about 60,000 metric tons of Canadian canola shortly after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's visit to Beijing last week, two traders with direct knowledge of the deal told Reuters on Monday.

The cargo, the first since China halted imports in October, is expected to be shipped after March, according to the traders.

On Friday, Carney said Canada expects China to cut tariffs on Canadian canola seed to a combined rate of about 15% by March 1, part of an initial trade deal that also reduces tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles.

China's commerce ministry said later that day Beijing would adjust its anti-dumping measures on Canadian rapeseed, without elaborating.

"Lower duty on Canadian canola is almost a done deal after the Canadian PM visit. It makes sense to buy now," said one oilseed trader at an international trading company.

China has been conducting an anti-dumping probe into Canadian canola and in August imposed preliminary duties of 75.8%, effectively halting shipments amid a wider diplomatic and trade dispute between the two countries.

The halt in Canadian shipments has brought China's vast canola crushing industry to a standstill for the first time since at least 2015, according to data from consultancy MySteel.

Monthly Chinese canola imports fell to zero in October for the first time in two decades, trade data shows, and inventories at crushing plants have fallen to nothing, MySteel said.

Beijing is expected to make a final ruling in its anti-dumping investigation on Canadian canola before March 9.

Canola, or rapeseed, is crushed to produce cooking oil and other products. The protein-rich meal left behind in the crushing process is used as livestock feed.