China cuts Canadian canola anti-dumping duty to 5.9 percent

China has significantly reduced its anti-dumping tariff on Canada canola in a final ruling that concludes a 17-month investigation. The move follows a period of thawing diplomatic relations between Beijing and Ottawa and comes a day after the Chinese government announced the suspension of other agricultural tariffs. According to a statement from the commerce ministry, the final anti-dumping tariff was lowered to 5.9% from the preliminary 75.8% rate imposed last August. This levy will be effective from March 1 and will remain in place for five years. When combined with the standard 9% import tariff, the total effective duty on Canadian canola will be 14.9%. This figure aligns with the expectations of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who anticipated a total rate of roughly 15% following his visit to Beijing in January. China served as the second-largest market for Canadian canola in 2024. The decision comes amid a broader diplomatic push by Beijing to present itself as a stable economic partner, particularly as trade policies in the United States strain traditional alliances. Carney has moved to secure trade deals with Beijing, signaling an ambition for Canada to play a prominent role in a global trade order designed to reduce economic dependence on Washington. The Ministry of Commerce stated that while the investigation determined that imported rapeseed from Canada involved dumping that harmed the domestic industry, the final ruling took into account reasonable requests from the Canadian side. > "The new levies can alleviate pressure on the domestic sector and help maintain healthy and stable development of the industry." The ministry expressed a desire for continued cooperation to enhance economic ties between the two nations. > "China is willing to work with Canada to continue deepening economic and trade cooperation between the two countries and enhance the well-being of the people on both sides."