China starts levying 100% duties on canola oil and peas from Canada

Starting Thursday, Chinese customs will levy 100% duties on peas and rapeseed oil, as well as 25% on pork and seafood from Canada. As the Ministry of Commerce of China commented, this measure was approved following an anti-discrimination investigation.

The relevant actions were taken on the basis of several Chinese laws – on foreign trade, customs and tariffs. As noted, Beijing insists that the Canadian authorities “rationally approach bilateral trade and economic cooperation, show respect for objective facts, comply with the rules of the World Trade Organization and immediately correct erroneous actions.”

According to the Chinese government, Ottawa has taken “unilateral protectionist measures” that should be considered discriminatory, restricting the rights and interests of Chinese producers. In addition, the Chinese leadership believes that such Canadian policies undermine economic relations between the two countries.

At the end of August 2024, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Ottawa would impose increased tariffs on electric vehicles (100%) on October 1, and on aluminum and steel (25%) from China in the second half of October. On September 26, the Ministry of Commerce of China launched an investigation into trade discrimination, following which it announced a retaliatory duty increase on March 8, 2025.

It’s unclear how consumers will be affected by the tariffs, but industry players say the sticker price of canola oil may not increase in Canada. The federal government has said China’s tariffs are unjustified, but it has not announced any concrete plans to help canola farmers.

Tags: China, Canada, rapeseed oil, restrictions, pea