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Advocating for Canola Producers amid Chinese Tariffs
Advocating for Canola Producers amid Chinese Tariffs
Michelle Pinon - News Advertiser
On March 20, China’s State Council Tariff Commission imposed a 100 percent tariff rate on Canadian canola oil and canola meal along with several other agricultural commodities.
The action is a direct result of the China’s Ministry of Commerce’s anti-discrimination investigation initiated against Canada in September 2024 as a result of the federal government’s tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, steel and aluminum.
Jeannette Andrashewski, Region 4 Director with the Alberta Canola Council, (ACC) like thousands of other producers was hoping the tariffs would not be imposed.
Andrashewski, who represents Two Hills and area for the ACC, said the decision is “another layer of unpredictability and uncertainty” for producers who will likely be seeding in six weeks’ time. She also pointed out that China’s decision not only impacts canola producers in Vegreville and area, but canola producers throughout the country as well as grain elevators and canola processors.
According to the Canola Council of Canada, “Canola is a significant contributor to Canada’s economy and the livelihood of approximately 40,000 Canadian farmers as part of an industry generating $43.7 billion annually. China is the second largest market for Canadian canola with exports of canola seed, oil and meal valued at $4.9 billion in 2024.”
Andrashewski said 40 percent of Canadian Canola is exported to China. The ACC, along with the Canola Council of Canada, and Canadian Canola Growers Association have been advocating on behalf of producers at both the provincial and federal levels over the past week. “We’re trying to collaborate to get our voices heard and to allow producers to remain competitive.”
An announcement was made on March 22. According to a Government of Canada news release, “The agriculture sector is experiencing multiple challenges, including the tariffs imposed by China, trade uncertainty with the United States, and other risks like animal disease. To help our hard-working producers get through these challenges, today, the Honourable Kody Blois, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Rural Economic Development announced supports for the agricultural sector through AgriStability.
AgriStability offers affordable, whole farm protection to support producers when challenges are beyond their capacity to manage. The additional proposed supports include increasing the compensation rate from 80 percent to 90 percent and doubling the current payment cap to $6 million for the 2025 program year.
