The federal government has formally requested World Trade Organization dispute consultations with China after Beijing last week officially imposed import duties on certain agricultural and fishery products from Canada.
A statement from the WTO said Canada claims the measures “are inconsistent with China's obligations under various provisions of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994 and the Dispute Settlement Understanding.”
The request for consultations formally initiates a dispute in the WTO. Consultations give the parties an opportunity to discuss the matter and to find a satisfactory solution without proceeding further with litigation. After 60 days, if consultations have failed to resolve the dispute, the complainant may request adjudication by a panel.
China announced 100% tariffs on Canadian imports of Canadian canola oil, canola meal and dry peas earlier this month, along with 25% levies on Canadian pork and fishery products. The Chinese tariffs, which took effect March 20, follow Canada’s decision last fall to slap tariffs on imports of Chinese EVs, as well as steel and aluminum products.
Farmers and industry organizations have said China’s tariffs will hit hard, with canola futures falling sharply in the days immediately after China’s announcement of the trade levies.
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