China announced on Saturday that it will impose new tariffs on several Canadian agricultural and food products. The new rules will affect rapeseed oil, oil cakes, and peas by adding a 100 percent tariff. Aquatic products and pork will face a 25 percent tariff. These tariffs will take effect on March 20.
This decision comes after China looked into the taxes that Canada put on Chinese goods last year. Chinese officials said that Canada’s actions disrupted normal trade and hurt Chinese businesses. They urged Canada to stop these practices and remove the restrictions.
Last August, Canada placed 100 percent tariffs on Chinese electric vehicle imports. This was similar to measures taken by the United States to protect against Chinese state-subsidized cars. Canada also added extra taxes on steel and aluminum imports from China.
Canada is a major producer of canola, an oilseed crop used for making cooking oil, animal feed, and biodiesel fuel. China has long been one of Canada’s biggest customers. However, relations between the two countries cooled in 2018 after Canada detained Meng Wanzhou, a top executive at Huawei, leading to China arresting two Canadian nationals.
These new tariffs add to the ongoing trade tensions between Canada, China, and even the United States.
