China announced tariffs on Canadian agricultural and food products on Saturday in retaliation for October’s decision to impose duties on Chinese-made electric vehicles, steel and aluminium.
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The Chinese commerce ministry said a 100 per cent tariff would be placed on Canadian rapeseed oil, oil cakes and peas, while a 25 per cent duty would be applied to Canadian aquatic products and pork.
It added that Canada’s 100 per cent tariff on Chinese electric vehicles and the 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminium, violated World Trade Organization rules, were protectionist and unjustly harmed China’s rights and interests.
“The Canadian side ignored China’s repeated opposition and dissuasion and did not conduct any investigation,” the ministry said.
These new tariffs will take effect on March 20, fuelling the trade conflict sparked by the levies US President Donald Trump has threatened or imposed, including those targeting China, Canada and Mexico.
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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in August, two months before the tariffs came into force, that they were aimed at countering China’s state-driven overcapacity following similar moves by the United States and European Union against Chinese EV imports.