China announced on Saturday that it will impose fresh tariffs on Canadian agricultural and food products, escalating trade tensions between the two nations.
Beijing’s commerce ministry said it would levy a 100% tariff on rapeseed oil, oil cakes, and peas imported from Canada, while pork and aquatic products would face a 25% duty. The measures are set to take effect on March 20.
The decision follows a Chinese investigation into Canadian tariffs imposed on Chinese goods last year.
In August, Ottawa implemented 100% tariffs on Chinese electric vehicle imports, aligning with US efforts to counter China’s state-subsidised car exports.
Canada also introduced additional levies on Chinese steel and aluminum products.
Beijing’s commerce ministry accused Canada of disrupting the normal trade order and harming 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 one of the world’s top producers of canola—used in cooking oil, animal feed, and biodiesel—and China has traditionally been a key buyer.
However, trade relations between the two countries soured after Canada arrested Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou in 2018, prompting China to detain two Canadians in retaliation.
The latest tariffs come amid broader trade tensions involving the US, which, under President Donald Trump, has implemented aggressive new duties on Chinese imports.
