On Saturday, March 8, China announced it would impose tariffs on Canadian imports, including rapeseed oil and pork, following an investigation into Canada’s tariffs on Chinese goods last year.
The Chinese Ministry of Commerce stated that imported rapeseed oil, oil cakes, and peas from Canada would face a 100 percent tariff, while aquatic products and pork would be taxed at 25 percent. These new measures are set to take effect on March 20.
This decision comes after Canada imposed a 100 percent tariff on Chinese electric vehicle imports in August 2024, in line with U.S. actions aimed at limiting the influx of state-subsidized Chinese cars into North America. Ottawa also introduced a surtax on Chinese steel and aluminum products.
China’s Ministry of Commerce argued that Canada’s actions disrupted normal trade flows and violated the legitimate rights of Chinese businesses.
“China urges Canada to immediately correct its improper practices, remove its restrictive measures, and eliminate their negative effects,” said a ministry spokesperson.
Canada is a major producer of canola, which is processed into cooking oil, animal feed, and biodiesel. China had been one of its largest buyers, but trade relations have worsened in recent years.
Tensions between the two countries escalated in 2018 when Canada detained Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou, which led to the retaliatory detention of two Canadian nationals by Beijing. The new tariffs also come amid growing global trade tensions, with both Canada and China facing increasing pressure from the United States, where President Donald Trump has introduced new trade restrictions on several countries.
