The federal government is facing more pressure to restore access to the Chinese market as frustration mounts among prairie canola growers facing some of the lowest prices in years.
The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) said in a release Thursday canola trade with China will be at the top of the meeting agenda as SARM’s board and policy team are in Ottawa for meetings next week. The visit will include a sit-down with federal Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald.
Since Ottawa’s imposition of tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles earlier this year, China has completely halted imports of Canadian canola seed, oil, and meal. The move effectively severed access to one of Canada’s largest and most reliable export markets, the SARM release said.
Amid the loss of the Chinese market, canola prices have slumped to some of the lowest levels in recent years. For many producers, the timing could not be worse. Fall is typically when farmers begin marketing their crops to cover input costs, loan payments, and other financial obligations. But this year, many are facing full bins, dwindling cash flow, and mounting debt pressures.
“We just finished harvest, but the bins are full and the marketplace is closed off. This is not a good situation for farmers right now,” said SARM President Bill Huber. “We need access to our markets in order to keep farms financially viable.”
On the weekend, China’s ambassador to Canada said Beijing would be willing to drop its tariffs on Canadian canola and other agricultural products if Ottawa scrapped its levies on Chinese electric vehicles. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has not directly said whether his government is prepared to do so, although Ontario Premier Doug Ford remains steadfast the electric vehicle tariffs should remain to protect his province’s auto industry.
