Scott Moe says Sask. canola put in the line of fire by Chinese tariffs

OTTAWA — Canadian farmers could take a big hit from China’s sudden retaliatory tariffs that take aim at canola, pork and other food commodities.

China is hitting Canada with 100-per-cent tariffs on canola oil and peas, and 25-per-cent tariffs on pork and aquatic products — loosely mirroring Canada’s EV and steel and aluminum levies.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says the province’s canola industry is being put in the line of fire due to tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles.

Moe said in a social media post that the tariffs on Chinese EVs are to protect North American EVs, which he says few can afford.

Well put, Trevor.

Sask’s canola industry is being put in the line of fire due to tariff’s on Chinese EV’s which nobody wants; to protect North American EV’s which few can afford; impacting Saskatchewan canola sales which people need and are already paying for. pic.twitter.com/jHrTwX3zve

— Scott Moe (@PremierScottMoe) March 8, 2025

Chris Davison, head of the Canola Council of Canada, says the tariffs are prohibitively high and the fallout will be felt across his industry.

Read more:

• Federated Co-op to pause canola crush and renewable diesel facilities
• Viterra-Bunge merger means less money for Sask. farmers: Grain Growers
• ‘String of disappointments’: Canola producers say paused plants could hurt economy

Davison says China is a top market for Canadian canola that represents close to $5 billion in export value.

Beijing announced retaliatory tariffs on select Canadian farm imports in response to Canadian duties levied back in the fall against Chinese-made electric vehicles, and steel and aluminum products.

The new tariffs against Canadian agricultural products are expected to kick in on March 20 — and will widen Canada’s ongoing trade problems as the country seeks to beat back U.S. President Donald Trump’s stop-and-go tariffs.

— with Canadian Press files

Read more:

• Federated Co-op to pause canola crush and renewable diesel facilities
• Viterra-Bunge merger means less money for Sask. farmers: Grain Growers
• ‘String of disappointments’: Canola producers say paused plants could hurt economy