‘Between two elephants’: Canadian farmers feeling China tariffs, worry about U.S.

Prairie farmers say planned Chinese retaliatory tariffs on Canadian agricultural products are causing loads of uncertainty, while threats of U.S. levies and industry issues have created further problems. 

Bill Prybylski, president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan, says China’s 100 per cent tariffs on canola oil, meal and peas scheduled for next week are already being felt, as markets have taken a hit. 

“For anybody that’s forced to sell canola in the near future to pay for input costs going into the spring, it’s going to hurt,” Prybylski, who farms near Yorkton, northeast of Regina, said Monday.

“Almost 10 per cent of the value of canola has just evaporated overnight.”

China imposed the measures in response to Canada slapping the country with duties in the fall against Chinese-made electric vehicles, along with steel and aluminum products.

Beijing is also planning 25 per cent tariffs on pork and aquatic products.

Andre Harpe, chair of the Alberta Canola Producers Commission, said companies have already stopped buying canola. 

Harpe, who farms near Grande Prairie, northwest of Edmonton, said tariff threats from the U.S. are making the situation worse. 

“It’s kind of like sitting between two elephants right now,” he said, referring to China and the U.S.