China imposes retaliatory tariffs on Canadian farm and food products

China hits Canadian agriculture with tariffs in trade retaliation

Robert Besser
14 Mar 2025, 16:04 GMT+10

China imposes retaliatory tariffs on Canadian farm and food products

China has announced new tariffs on Canadian agricultural and food products in retaliation for Canada's recent duties on Chinese-made electric vehicles, steel, and aluminum
The tariffs, set to take effect on March 20, were detailed in a statement by the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council
The new measures include a 100 percent tariff on Canadian rapeseed oil, oil cakes, and peas and a 25 percent tariff on pork and aquatic products

BEIJING, China: China has announced new tariffs on Canadian agricultural and food products in retaliation for Canada's recent duties on Chinese-made electric vehicles, steel, and aluminum.

The tariffs, set to take effect on March 20, were detailed in a statement by the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council.

The new measures include a 100 percent tariff on Canadian rapeseed oil, oil cakes, and peas and a 25 percent tariff on pork and aquatic products. The move escalates already-heightened global trade tensions, with ongoing tariff exchanges between China, Canada, the United States, and Mexico.

China's decision follows Ottawa's imposition of tariffs on Chinese imports in October, including a 100 percent surtax on all Chinese-made EVs and a 25 percent tariff on steel and aluminum.

"Despite China's repeated opposition and dissuasion, Canada has taken unilateral restrictive measures on electric vehicles, steel, aluminum, and other products imported from China without investigation, undermining China-Canada economic and trade relations," the statement from Chinese customs authorities said.

The announcement cited an "anti-discrimination probe" that concluded Canada's restrictions on Chinese products had disrupted normal trade and harmed Chinese enterprises.

Canada imposed its tariffs last August, following similar actions by the United States and the European Union, which argued that China's extensive subsidies create an unfair competitive advantage for its industries.