"Last summer, when the U.S. placed tariffs on China due to the country’s non-market practices, Canada aligned with our largest trading partner — but now it’s Canada’s agri-food industry that’s taking the brunt of China’s retaliation. Canada’s agri-food sector supplied 1 in 9 jobs in Canada, generated around 7% of Canada’s GDP, and exported nearly $100 billion worth of goods in 2023. It is a cornerstone of our economy and essential to Canadian prosperity.
The sector now needs concerted government support — especially with China’s provisional 75.8% anti-dumping duty on Canadian canola imports set to take effect later this week. We cannot leave our farmers and producers to face this challenge alone. We call on the federal government to work with American and Chinese counterparts toward a swift resolution. As we urged back in March, this support should include investment in transportation infrastructure to diversify exports into new markets, along with measures to reduce the tax and regulatory burdens facing Canadian agriculture.
Our countries all benefit most from a stable, predictable and rules-based trading environment."
Candace Laing, President and CEO, Canadian Chamber of Commerce