Western Canada is once again feeling the brunt of the impact on a federal decision to protect the Central Canadian automotive industry.
It is not only Canada and the US that are in a tariff battle these days. We have opened another front – this time in Asia.
A few months ago, the feds slapped a 100-percent tariff on imports of Chinese-made electric cars alongside a 25-percent tariff on steel and aluminum imports. The reasoning was that China was dumping their product here which was damaging Canadian producers.
Then earlier this year, Canada added tariffs on imports of Chinese solar panels.
China has now responded with retaliatory tariffs of their own. And the target is Western Canada, not Ontario or Quebec where the electric car factories are located.
Starting next week, Canadian canola oil and peas will be hit with a 100-percent tariff. Canadian seafood and pork will attract a 25-percent levy. This will not be helpful as China, coupled with the US market, take a large share of Canada’s canola production which largely comes from this province.
