China on Saturday imposed retaliatory tariffs on specific Canadian agricultural products in response after Ottawa imposed tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles and steel and aluminum products. Beijing said a 100% tariff would be imposed on Canadian rapeseed oil, oil cakes, and peas, and a 25% tariff on aquatic products and pork that are from Canada. The tariffs are to be implemented from March 20, according to a statement by China’s Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council.
The actions come in a brewing global trade war as a series of tariff announcements by the U.S., China, Canada, and Mexico have been made in recent months. A 100% import tariff on Chinese-made EVs has been imposed by Canada from October 1 last year, in a move that followed that of the U.S. and the European Union in response to unfair competition. A 25% tariff on Chinese steel and aluminum product imports has been imposed by Ottawa and took effect from October 15.
“Canada’s unilateral imposition of tariffs goes against objective facts and World Trade Organization regulations, is a common practice of trade protectionism, is a discriminatory practice towards China, seriously infringes on China’s lawful rights and interests, and undermines China-Canada economic and trade relations,” China’s customs authorities said in a statement on a Saturday in a translation by Google.
