Chinese Tariffs on Canadian Agricultural Exports Take Effect

 Chinese tariffs on Canadian goods, including rapeseed oil and pork, will take effect on Thursday, with industry groups warning that the new levies will have a “devastating impact” on farmers. The tariffs, announced earlier this month, follow a Chinese investigation into tariffs imposed by Ottawa on Chinese products last year.

The tariffs impose a 100 percent surcharge on Canadian rapeseed oil, oil cakes, and peas.

Canada is one of the world’s largest producers of canola—a type of rapeseed used to make cooking oil, animal feed, and biodiesel—and China has traditionally been one of its biggest customers.

Additionally, aquatic products and pork will face a 25 percent tariff. Canadian industry leaders have expressed concern over the significant impact these new tariffs will have.

"New tariffs from China on Canadian canola oil and meal will have a devastating impact on canola farmers and the broader value chain, especially in an environment of increasing trade and geopolitical uncertainty," said Chris Davison, President of the Canola Council of Canada. "We urge the federal government to engage immediately with China to resolve this issue."

The tariffs come amid rising trade tensions between both Canada and China and the U.S. Under President Donald Trump, the U.S. has implemented tough tariffs, including 100 percent duties on Chinese electric vehicle imports in August—mirroring U.S. efforts to block subsidized Chinese cars from North America. Canada also imposed tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminum products.

Beijing’s commerce ministry stated that a probe into these measures found that Canada's policies “disrupted the normal trade order and harmed the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises.”

In Beijing, some residents voiced support for China’s tariffs on foreign goods. "China has become strong and doesn’t need to rely on others for everything," said Zheng Ruitao, a resident in his thirties. "For me personally, it has not much impact; the impact might be on the country," said Song Qing, another resident.

Diplomatic relations between Beijing and Ottawa soured in 2018 after Canada detained Meng Wanzhou, a top executive from Chinese tech company Huawei. In retaliation, China arrested two Canadian nationals, plunging bilateral ties into a deep freeze.