China lowered the anti-dumping tariff to 5.9 per cent
China is furthering reducing its tariffs on Canadian canola.
On Feb. 28, China’s Ministry of Commerce announced its final ruling on anti-dumping levies for Canadian canola seed and lowered the related tariffs from 75.8 per cent to 5.9 per cent.
Paired with China’s standard 9 per cent import tariff, Canadian canola seed will be tariffed at 14.9 per cent.
The new rate, which took effect March 1 and will be in place for five years, “can alleviate pressure on the domestic sector and help maintain healthy and stable development of the industry,” Chinese officials said, Reuters reported.
China imposed the anti-dumping tariffs in August 2025 following Canada’s move to tariff Chinese EVs at 100 per cent, and Chinese steel and aluminum at 25 per cent.
Canadian pork is still subject to Chinese tariffs.
China’s decision on canola seed came one day after the country suspended tariffs on canola meal and peas, and tariffs on lobster and crab.
“China is willing to work with Canada to continue deepening economic and trade cooperation between the two countries and enhance the well-being of the people on both sides,” China’s finance ministry said.
Canadian farmers welcome the progress.
“This is a positive development for prairie canola farmers and a welcome sign of improved market access,” Daryl Fransoo, chairman of the Wheat Growers Association, said in a statement. “For many growers, canola is a cornerstone of crop rotation alongside wheat and other grains. Restoring more predictable access to China provides needed relief on prices and cash flow at a critical time.”
Fransoo’s statement also highlighted China’s past of targeting agriculture in disputes, and urged USMCA negotiators to ensure agriculture is protected in the upcoming discussions.
Indeed, China has a history of retaliating against agriculture industries.
Aside from Canada, for example, China placed an 80.5 per cent anti-dumping tariff on Australian barley in May 2020 after the country called for an independent investigation into the origins of COVID-19.
In 2022, China suspended imports of Lithuanian beef, dairy and beer. This was seen as retaliation for Lithuania allowing Taiwan to open an embassy there.
And in 2020, Norway had its salmon exports to China restricted after Liu Xiaobo, a Chinese dissident who spoke out against the Chinese Community Party, received the Nobel Peace Prize.