Canola tariff relief welcomed by Canadian farmers

By Joe O’Grady, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Temiskaming Speaker

A proposed steep drop in Chinese tariffs on Canadian canola is being hailed as a golden opportunity for Canadian farmers.

Timiskaming-Cochrane MPP John Vanthof, a local farmer and long-time agricultural advocate, said the news is welcome, but how it played out is puzzling.

“The trade agreement with China will hopefully return market access to canola to similar levels before China imposed their tariffs,” he said in an interview with The Speaker.

“This is good news for local growers,” he said.

But the fact Premier Doug Ford didn’t know the details of a deal to bring in Chinese-built electric vehicles until it was announced “is concerning however. Automobile manufacturing is also a major employer in Ontario.”

Nipissing-Timiskaming MP Pauline Rochefort said “significant tariff relief” – from the current 85 per cent to 15 per cent come March – is good news for the riding and beyond.

“This is a welcome development for agricultural producers close to home and across the country,” Rochefort said in a news release.

“We are appreciative of the work of Prime Minister Mark Carney and the Canadian delegation in securing a strategic partnership and a new Canada-China trade relationship.”

By March 1, China is expected to lower tariffs on Canadian canola to a combined rate of about 15 per cent, following an agreement-in-principle between the two countries reached in Beijing last week.  

Temiskaming Federation of Agriculture President Norm Koch said in the release the development opens up a big market.

“Canola production is an important part of farming across the Nipissing-Timiskaming District and the easing of tariffs on canola is good news for local farmers, helping support the long-term stability of Northern agricultural communities,” he said.

China is a $4 billion canola seed market for Canadian producers, Rochefort said.

The greatest acreage of canola grown in Ontario can be found in the northern part of the Nipissing-Timiskaming riding, with some 15,000 acres farmed in 2024.

Terry Phillips, a long-time canola grower, Reeve of Kerns Township and an Ontario Canola Growers Committee member, said the deal struck by the Canadian delegation is a good one.

“To be able to trade off a few Chinese EVs was long overdue to open the door for a reduction on canola tariffs and hopefully open the door for continued discussion on pork and seafood products,” he said in the release.

“Keep up the good work.”

As part of the deal, Canada will allow up to 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles (EV) into the Canadian market, with the most-favoured-nation tariff rate of 6.1 per cent.  

Will Runnalls, Chair of Ontario Canola Growers, said the Chinese market is vitally important for the province’s producers.

“We welcome the announcement made in Beijing to provide significant tariff relief for Canadian canola seed and meal. China is important as it’s the number one or two export market for Canola meal, seed and oil from Canada.”