Starting today China is implementing a 75.8 per cent duty on Canadian canola seed imports.
China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) announced the preliminary ruling regarding their anti-dumping investigation earlier this week.
The latest tariff on canola seed is in addition to the 100 per cent tariff implemented on Canadian oil and meal back in March 2025.
President and CEO of the Canola Council of Canada, Chris Davison, says China is a highly valued and important market for us, noting they were disappointed with the preliminary ruling.
"From the beginning of this (anti-dumping) investigation, we've been clear that Canada's canola trade with China is aligned with and supports rules-based trade, fair market access, and competition of Canadian canola in the Chinese market. So to not have that recognized is is certainly disappointing at this stage. And then, of course, most importantly in the immediate term is the economic impact this is going to have on the industry."
Davison says the impact is very significant; China is Canada’s second-largest market for canola and canola products, with exports to China valued at $4.9 billion in 2024.
"About $4 billion of that was comprised of seed, about 920 million of meal, and a little over 20 million in terms of oil."
He notes the federal government needs to double down on efforts to address trade issues with China.
"We are going to work with and encourage the federal government to do what's necessary to effectively address these trade issues. Given the magnitude of the impact of these actions that have been taken from our second-largest export market, the industry is going to need some form of support. Those are yet to be defined, but you know, I would venture to say we will be talking again to the federal government. Both financial components and policy supports as well."
Rick White, President & CEO of the Canadian Canola Growers Association, says this tariff will have an immediate and substantive impact on farmers’ marketing opportunities for the 2025 canola crop.
"Canadian farmers are globally competitive, and if a solution is not found swiftly, the impact will be quickly felt on our farms and in our rural communities."
The CCC and CCGA are calling for immediate support from the federal government as the industry navigates this unprecedented market closure.
With an economic impact of $43.7 billion annually, the Canadian canola industry is an economic engine for the Canadian economy, supporting over 200,000 jobs across the country and accounting for over $16 billion in wages.
To hear Glenda-Lee's conversation with the President and CEO of the Canola Council of Canada, Chris Davison click on the link below.