Sask. Premier And Federal Minister Meet On China Canola Tariff

On Aug. 21, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe met with federal Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald, along with industry groups, to discuss the steep Chinese tariff on Canadian canola seed.

Kody Blois, the parliamentary secretary for Prime Minister Mark Carney, and Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Daryl Harrison also attended the meeting in Saskatoon.

China imposed the tariff of nearly 76 per cent last week, causing the price of one of Canada’s most valuable crops to fall and wiping out millions of dollars in its value.

It comes one year after China launched an anti-dumping investigation into Canadian canola, a move in response to Canada’s 100 per cent tariff on Chinese electric vehicles.

Farmers and Ottawa have rejected the dumping claim, saying exporters have followed rules-based trade.