China announced on Saturday, March 8, that it would impose tariffs on Canadian imports, including rapeseed oil and pork, following an investigation into levies imposed by Ottawa on Chinese goods last year.
Beijing’s commerce ministry stated that imported rapeseed oil, oil cakes, and peas from Canada would face a 100 percent tariff, while aquatic products and pork would be subject to a 25 percent levy. The new measures are set to take effect on March 20.
The decision comes after Canada placed 100 percent tariffs on Chinese electric vehicle imports in August 2024, aligning with U.S. measures aimed at curbing the influx of state-subsidized Chinese cars into North America. Ottawa also introduced a surtax on steel and aluminum products from China.
China’s commerce ministry claimed that its investigation found that Canada’s policies disrupted normal trade and harmed the legitimate rights of Chinese businesses.
“China urges Canada to immediately correct its bad practices, lift its restrictive measures, and eliminate its negative effects,” a ministry spokesperson said.
Canada is a leading producer of canola, which is processed into cooking oil, animal feed, and biodiesel fuel. China had previously been one of its largest buyers, but trade relations have deteriorated in recent years.
Tensions between the two nations deepened in 2018 when Canada detained Meng Wanzhou, a senior executive at Huawei, leading to the retaliatory arrests of two Canadian nationals by Beijing.
The latest tariffs also come amid escalating global trade tensions, with both Canada and China facing pressure from the United States, where President Donald Trump has introduced new trade restrictions targeting multiple countries.
