China’s Tariffs on Canadian Canola Deepen Trade Dispute

Farmers face severe financial losses as federal support remains undefined, while Alberta allocates $4 billion to address the crisis.

China has enacted 100% tariffs on Canadian canola oil and meal, along with 25% tariffs on seafood and pork, in retaliation for Canadian tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and metals.
The tariffs have caused a sharp drop in canola prices, with some farmers estimating losses of up to $100,000 per farm this year.
Alberta has committed $4 billion to mitigate the impact of the tariffs, while Saskatchewan and Manitoba have yet to allocate significant resources.
The federal government has called China’s tariffs unjustified but has not announced concrete plans to support affected farmers.
The trade conflict mirrors a 2019 dispute involving Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou, highlighting the vulnerabilities of Canada’s agricultural reliance on China.