Recently, China has launched a one-year anti-dumping probe into Canadian canola imports, marking the latest escalation in trade tensions between the two nations. Canola, a key export for Canada, is used widely in both the food and cosmetics industries, valued for its role in skin and hair care products.
China’s Ministry of Commerce stated that Canadian canola imports “increased significantly” in 2023, while prices fell, allegedly harming China’s domestic industry. The investigation will examine imports from last year and is expected to be completed by September 2025, though it could be extended under special conditions.
Canada’s Minister of Agriculture, Lawrence MacAulay, expressed concern over the probe, emphasizing that Canadian canola products adhere to strict quality standards and are subject to rigorous inspections. He stressed Canada’s commitment to ensuring fair market access for its farmers and producers, pledging to work with industry stakeholders to address the issue.
As the world’s largest importer of oilseeds, China is a vital market for Canadian canola, with over 4.5 million metric tons worth CAD$3.8 billion (US$2.8 billion) exported to China in 2023. Last June, the EU also implemented provisional anti-dumping duties on titanium dioxide (TiO2) imports from China to protect the European market from what it claims are unjust trade practices. The EU believes China is selling its products at unfairly low prices in Europe.
