Saskatchewan Premier to Visit China in Bid to End Canola Tariffs

Scott Moe, premier of Saskatchewan, Canada’s major grain-growing province, said he will soon travel to China for talks aimed at persuading Beijing to drop new tariffs on canola, David Ljunggren and Ed White reported for Reuters.

China imposed preliminary duties of 75.8% on Canadian canola seed imports last week following an anti-dumping investigation, escalating a year-long trade dispute. (Photo: Scott Moe Facebook)

China imposed preliminary duties of 75.8% on Canadian canola seed imports last week following an anti-dumping investigation, escalating a year-long trade dispute. China is Canada’s largest market for canola seed.

Federal Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald also pledged support for farmers and the industry, which employs 200,000 people and generates C$43 billion in economic value.

“We’re working diligently alongside them,” MacDonald said in a phone interview after a meeting.

Canada, the world’s largest exporter of canola, shipped almost C$5 billion ($3.63 billion) of canola products to China in 2024, about 80% of which was seed. If the steep new duties remain in place, they will likely end Canadian canola seed exports to China.

The dispute traces back to Canada’s imposition of 100% tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles last year, which prompted Beijing to launch an anti-dumping probe into canola seed.

In February, China imposed tariffs on Canadian canola oil, meal, and other agricultural products. This month’s addition of canola seed to the tariff list came shortly after Canada imposed new tariffs on steel in July, further straining trade relations.