China strikes back at Canada with heavy tariffs on key exports

Beijing has announced a series of retaliatory tariffs against Canada in response to Ottawa’s recent levies on Chinese electric vehicles and metals, escalating the ongoing global trade war.

The new tariffs, set to take effect on March 20, will target several Canadian exports, including a 100% levy on rapeseed oil, oil cakes, and peas, as well as a 25% tariff on aquatic products and pork, Caliber.Az reports via European media.

The move by China follows a series of trade decisions by U.S. President Donald Trump last week, including the imposition of 25% tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico, along with a doubling of Chinese import levies to 20%. These actions were part of a broader strategy under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) that saw Trump granting a one-month exemption to Canada and Mexico on auto and some agricultural tariffs, while both countries indicated their willingness to review tariffs on Chinese imports.

China's Ministry of Commerce condemned Canada's recent trade actions, which included a 100% import tariff on Chinese electric vehicles and a 25% levy on steel and aluminum imposed by Ottawa last October. In a statement released on March 8, China accused Canada of violating World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, calling the measures “typical acts of protectionism” that harm China’s legitimate interests.

The Canadian government, however, rejected China's claims. Canada's Global Affairs department issued a statement labeling the tariff imposition as “unjustified” and reaffirming Canada’s stance on addressing China’s non-market policies that artificially distort production costs. “Canada remains open to engaging in constructive dialogue with Chinese officials to address our respective trade concerns,” the statement concluded.

By Khagan Isayev