China removes restrictions on Canadian canola exports

By Caribbean News Global

OTTAWA, Canada – Mary Ng, minister of international trade, export promotion, small business and economic development, and Marie-Claude Bibeau, minister of agriculture and agri-food, on Wednesday, said that Canada has been advised that China has reinstated access to its market for two Canadian companies that China Customs had suspended from exporting canola seed to China since March 2019.

“The canola industry contributes almost $27 billion and 250,000 jobs to Canada’s economy. In 2018, Canada exported more than $11 billion worth of canola products to over 50 markets. In March 2019, China suspended two Canadian companies, alleging the detection of quarantine pests in canola shipments,” said Global Affairs Canada.

In a joint statement, minister Ng and Marie-Claude Bibeau, said: “We welcome this decision to remove the restrictions and immediately reinstate the two companies to allow them to export Canadian canola seeds,” and “We will continue to work with Canadian canola farmers, businesses, exporters, and their communities to defend their interests and support their success at home and in markets abroad, including China.”

Canada requested World Trade Organisation (WTO) consultations with China in September 2019 and WTO members agreed to establish a panel in July 2021 for this case. The panel was composed in November 2021.

“Canada will always firmly uphold the international rules-based trade system and related dispute settlement mechanisms, as well as a science-based approach to resolving such issues,” concluded the minister’s statement.