China has announced its decision to impose a series of tariffs on Canadian products in response to Canada's earlier actions against Chinese imports. Effective March 20, China will implement a 100% tariff on Canadian rapeseed oil, oilcakes, and peas, alongside a 25% levy on aquatic products and pork originating in Canada. The Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council revealed these measures, marking a notable escalation in the ongoing global trade conflict.
The announcement follows Canada's imposition of significant import duties on Chinese-manufactured electric vehicles (EVs) and steel and aluminum products. As of October 1 last year, Ottawa enacted a 100% tariff on EVs from China, further imposing a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports from October 15. These moves have drawn criticism from Beijing, which views them as unfair trade practices.
"Canada's unilateral imposition of tariffs disregards objective facts and World Trade Organization rules, is a typical trade protectionist practice, constitutes a discriminatory measure against China, seriously infringes on China's legitimate rights and interests, and undermines China-Canada economic and trade relations," – China's customs authorities
This statement underscores China's dissatisfaction with Canada's actions, framing them as violations of international trade norms. The situation reflects broader tensions as other countries, including the United States and the European Union, have also targeted Chinese-made EVs with tariffs, contributing to a brewing global trade war.
The recent announcement by China's customs authorities was published on a Saturday, with the statement translated from Chinese to English by Google. These measures are part of a broader pattern of reciprocal tariff announcements by major economies such as the U.S., China, Canada, and Mexico in recent months.
As the March 20 implementation date approaches, stakeholders in both countries are likely to monitor developments closely. The imposition of these tariffs signals potential disruptions in trade flows and economic relations between China and Canada. It remains to be seen how this will impact businesses and consumers reliant on the affected goods.