China is escalating its trade dispute with Canada, announcing fresh tariffs on key Canadian agricultural and food products. The new measures, set to take effect on March 20, will see a 100% tariff on rapeseed oil, oil cakes, and peas, while pork and aquatic products will be hit with a 25% levy, Beijing’s Commerce Ministry confirmed on Saturday.
This move follows an investigation by China into Canada’s tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, steel, and aluminum—policies that Beijing claims disrupted normal trade and harmed Chinese businesses.
“China urges Canada to immediately correct its bad practices, lift its restrictive measures, and eliminate its negative effects,” a ministry spokesperson stated.
The new tariffs are expected to strain Canada’s canola industry, as China has long been one of its largest buyers. The tensions recall the 2018 diplomatic standoff, when Canada arrested Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou, triggering China’s detention of two Canadians in retaliation.
As both nations navigate growing trade conflicts, Canada now joins the U.S. in facing China’s economic countermeasures—further fueling the ongoing global trade war.
