China announced on Saturday, March 8, that it will impose tariffs on Canadian imports, including rapeseed oil and pork, following an investigation into Ottawa’s levies on Chinese goods last year.
Beijing’s commerce ministry stated that imported rapeseed oil, oil cakes, and peas from Canada will face a 100 percent tariff, while aquatic products and pork will be subject to a 25 percent levy. The new measures will take effect on March 20.
The decision follows Canada’s move in August 2024 to impose 100 percent tariffs on Chinese electric vehicle imports, aligning with U.S. efforts to curb state-subsidized Chinese cars entering North America. Ottawa also introduced a surtax on steel and aluminum products from China.
China’s commerce ministry argued that Canada’s policies disrupted trade and harmed 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 major producer of canola, which is processed into cooking oil, animal feed, and biodiesel. While China was once a top buyer, trade relations have worsened over the years.
Tensions between the two nations escalated in 2018 after Canada detained Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou, prompting Beijing to arrest two Canadian nationals in retaliation.
The latest tariffs come amid rising 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.
