(Canada) China launches anti-dumping investigation against Canadian rapeseed

The Ministry of Commerce of China issued Announcement No. 37 of 2024 on September 9, deciding to initiate an anti-dumping investigation on imported rapeseed originating in Canada. The case was filed by the Ministry of Commerce according to its functions and powers. The dumping investigation period is from January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023, and the industrial damage investigation period is from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2023. The products involved in the case are classified as 12051090, 12059090 and other tariff numbers.

this case is directly related to the escalation of sino-canadian economic and trade friction. On August 26, Canada announced that it would impose a 100 per cent surcharge on Chinese-made electric vehicles from October 1 and a 25 per cent surcharge on Huagang aluminum products from October 15. China has previously made it clear that it will take all necessary measures to safeguard the rights and interests of its enterprises.

Rapeseed is one of the most important field crops in Canada, with an annual planting area of more than 21 million acres. The annual output value of the whole industry chain is about 43.7 billion Canadian dollars, supporting about 200000 jobs. China has long been the largest export market for Canadian rapeseed. Canadian industry players are worried about losing the Chinese market. Industry organizations such as the Canadian Rapeseed Council called on the two sides to resolve their differences through dialogue.

Analysts pointed out that the direction of the rapeseed case depends on the overall situation of China-Canada and even China-EU economic and trade frictions. Referring to the previous treatment path of Australian barley and wine "double reverse" measures, there is still room for the two sides to reach a solution through consultation during the investigation period. If the friction continues, Canadian farmers may speed up their search for alternative markets such as the European Union and Japan.

Source: China's Ministry of Commerce Announcement No. 37, 2024; Reuters; Global Affairs Canada, September 2024.