TikTok Photo: VCG

Canada's federal court has overturned a government order to close Chinese-owned social media app TikTok's Canadian operations, allowing the short-form video app to continue operating for the time being, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) on Wednesday local time. 

Chinese experts said that while the judgment is judicial, not executive, it comes as Canada seeks a broader, pragmatic recalibration in Canadian policy toward China — a sign that Ottawa is shifting toward market-driven pragmatism and is seeking cooperation that delivers clear economic value.

In a short judgment on Wednesday, federal court judge Russel Zinn set aside the order and sent the matter ⁠back to Industry Minister Mélanie Joly for review. He did not give any reasons, the CBC reported.

The court ruling allows the short‑form video app to continue operating in Canada for the time being, and TikTok has publicly welcomed the decision, the CBC reported. 

A TikTok spokesperson said in a statement on Wednesday that the company looks forward to working with the minister toward a resolution that's in the best interest of the more than 14 million Canadians using TikTok, adding that keeping TikTok's Canadian team in place will enable a path forward that continues to support millions of dollars of investment in Canada and hundreds of local jobs, according to the CBC report.

The industry ministry said Joly "will now proceed with a new national security review," adding that it was not in a position to comment further, citing legal confidentiality provisions, Reuters reported. 

In November 2024, under the previous Canadian administration, Canada's industry ministry ordered TikTok's business to be dissolved, citing national-security risks, but added the government was not blocking access or users' ability to create content, according to Reuters. 

The reported ruling came after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney visited China last week, the first Canadian PM visit to China since 2017. On January 16, China and Canada signed the China-Canada Economic and Trade Cooperation Roadmap, lays a solid foundation for elevating bilateral economic ties, according to the China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM). A MOFCOM official said that these measures are designed to accelerate development and create a fast lane for China-Canada economic cooperation.

He Weiwen, a senior fellow at the Center for China and Globalization, told the Global Times on Thursday that while the judgment is judicial, not executive, the Canadian government is unlikely to revive the previous administration’s ban against TikTok because it has made it clear that copying US tech restrictions no longer serves Canadian interests.

The US administration’s policies toward Canada, including tariff measures, seriously harmed Canada’s national interests, prompting Canada to broaden cooperation with other countries, and China is an important partner, He said, adding that as China-Canada ties improve, the Carney government is expected to abide by the federal court’s decision and avoid banning TikTok without justified cause. 

“The Canadian government is seeking a new, diversified development model: moving away from solely relying on existing so-called values as the standard of judgment, and placing greater emphasis on respecting facts and market demands,” Zhou Mi, a senior researcher at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, told the Global Times on Thursday. 

Zhou said that this shift is reflected in the Canadian government’s moves. “Whether it's the court overturning the TikTok ban or the government signaling its welcome to Chinese electric vehicles, the underlying logic is the same – replacing prior judgments with market facts and replacing ‘small yard, high fences’ protectionism with opportunities for cooperation,” he said.