China will launch an anti-dumping investigation into Canadian canola imports. Its exports to China have increased significantly and are sold at prices below the cost of production, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced, according to DPA. Beijing is doing so a week after Canada decided to impose a 100 percent tariff on imports of Chinese electric vehicles.
Tariffs also imposed on Chinese steel and aluminium
The Chinese ministry’s statement went on to say that “unfair trade practices” have caused losses in the domestic canola sector. At the same time, the ministry announced that it would have the tariffs imposed by Canada reviewed and request arbitration at the World Trade Organization (WTO). China will take all necessary measures to defend the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies, according to the ministry.
In addition to tariffs on Chinese electric cars, the Canadian government has announced tariffs of 25 percent on Chinese steel and aluminum products. The measures, which are due to take effect in October, aim to create a fair playing field for domestic industry, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland stressed. Ottawa says Chinese manufacturers are benefiting from the government’s overcapacity policy. They also have the benefit of looser standards for protecting workers and the environment, she said.
The US imposed the tariffs in May
The U.S. government ordered additional tariffs of one hundred per cent on electric cars from China in May. In June, the European Commission followed suit with its own plans, but these envisage different tariffs depending on the manufacturer.
More than half of the canola produced in Canada goes to China, the world’s largest importer of oilseeds, according to Reuters. Canola is used as cooking oil and in a wide range of products including renewable fuels.
Source: Czech Press Office
