CHINA IMPOSES NEW TARIFFS ON CANADIAN PRODUCTS, INDUSTRY WARNS OF “DEVASTATING IMPACT”
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Chinese tariffs on Canadian products, including rapeseed oil and pork, take effect Thursday, with industry leaders warning the new levies will severely impact farmers.
The tariffs—announced earlier this month—follow a Beijing investigation into levies imposed by Ottawa on Chinese goods last year. The new measures include a 100 percent surcharge on rapeseed oil, oil cakes, and peas imported from Canada.
Canada, one of the world’s top producers of canola—a rapeseed crop used for cooking oil, animal feed, and biodiesel fuel—has historically relied on China as a major customer. Additionally, aquatic products and pork will now face a 25 percent levy.
Industry leaders in Canada have expressed deep concerns over the impact of these tariffs.
“New tariffs from China on Canadian canola oil and meal will have a devastating impact on canola farmers and the broader value chain at a time of increased trade and geopolitical uncertainty,” said Chris Davison, President of the Canola Council of Canada.
He urged the federal government to immediately engage with China in an effort to resolve the issue.
The latest tariffs come amid intensifying trade tensions between China, Canada, and the United States. Under President Donald Trump, the U.S. imposed steep new tariffs on Chinese goods, prompting reciprocal measures from Beijing.
In August, Ottawa placed 100 percent tariffs on Chinese electric vehicle imports, aligning with U.S. efforts to curb an influx of state-subsidized Chinese cars into North America. Canada also imposed surcharges on imports of Chinese steel and aluminum products.
Beijing’s commerce ministry defended the retaliatory tariffs, stating that Canada’s policies had “disrupted the normal trade order and harmed the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises.”
In China, some residents voiced support for the government’s measures.
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“China has become strong and doesn’t need to rely on others for everything,” said Zheng Ruitao, a Beijing resident in his thirties.
“For me personally, it has not much impact; the impact might be on the country,” another resident, Song Qing, told AFP.
Relations between Beijing and Ottawa have remained tense since 2018, when Canada detained Meng Wanzhou, a top executive at Chinese tech giant Huawei. In response, China arrested two Canadian nationals, causing a diplomatic standoff that lasted several years.
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