Canada’s dual tariff battles with US and China threaten to strain world trade system
Beijing has reacted to earlier Canadian levies with new duties on food products even though both are facing Donald Trump’s tariff threats
The Chinese Ministry of Commerce 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.
The move marks yet another tariff retaliation among major trading powers as the global trade system faces unprecedented risks of fragmentation.
Canada has already faced tariff threats from the United States and is now embroiled in a trade battle with the world’s two largest economies simultaneously.
The ministry said 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.