Farms.com Home   News

‘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.

Click here to see more...

Trending Video

A Glimmer of Hope in Citrus Country

Video: A Glimmer of Hope in Citrus Country

For years, Florida's citrus producers have been battling a devastating disease that has wiped out 90 percent of production since 2005. But scientists are now able to offer a glimmer of hope to orange and grapefruit grove owners in the Sunshine State.