Chinese canola tariff shocks Peace region chambers of commerce

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Peace region chambers of commerce are voicing concerns surrounding recently announced Chinese tariffs on Canadian canola.

The Chinese government announced on Tuesday, August 12th that, effective Thursday, August 14th, it’s imposing a 75.8 per cent duty on Canadian canola seed, the latest move in a trade war that started last August when Canada imposed a duty on Chinese electric vehicles. 

The Dawson Creek and District Chamber of Commerce issued a statement on August 13th expressing deep concern regarding how those duties will impact the Peace region.

“Canola is a cornerstone of our local economy,” the statement reads. “Many producers in the South Peace region rely heavily on export markets, particularly China, which has historically been a vital trading partner.”

The chamber said this escalation of the trade dispute not only disrupts the lives of farmers and their families, but has knock-on effects on every industry and business that supports and relies on those farmers.

“This comes at a time when producers are already grappling with low yields due to ongoing drought conditions,” it said, “making this latest blow especially difficult in an already stressful year.”

This latest duty on canola seeds comes in addition to an existing 100 per cent tariff on canola oil and meal.

The Fort St. John and District Chamber of Commerce has echoed similar sentiments to its counterpart in the South Peace, saying it’s closely monitoring the impacts of the decision.

The Fort St. John chamber has reportedly joined a ‘Tariff Impact Working Group’ established by the B.C. Ministry of Jobs and Economic Growth in order to make sure the needs and realities of the Peace region are well represented.

“At this stage, feedback from our business community indicates that local companies have been able to pivot their operations to minimize the immediate effects of these tariffs but expect to be impacted in the future,” the Fort St. John organization’s statement reads.

“No layoffs have been reported to date as a result of the tariffs. However, the chamber recognizes that the situation may change as pressures on costs, exports and supply chains build over time.”

Meanwhile, the Dawson Creek and District chamber is calling on the federal government to “act swiftly to restore access to international markets, protect local jobs and ensure the long-term sustainability of our agricultural economy.”

Peace River North MLA Jordan Kealy also expressed concern about the tariff on X (formerly Twitter), saying it will rip billions of dollars “straight out of the hands of Canadian farmers.”

“This is not just a trade dispute,” Kealy said in a post to X on August 12th. “This is an attack on one of Canada’s most vital industries, and the consequences will be felt in every grocery store, every farming town and every household that already struggles with the cost of living.”

The Fort St. John chamber is seeking input from more local businesses regarding whether they’ve been impacted by these tariffs. Anyone interested in sharing their experiences is encouraged to reach out via email or by calling 250-785-6037.