Michael Joel-Hansen
Regina Leader-Post
Uncertainty — created by expanded canola tariffs imposed by the Chinese government — looms large as Saskatchewan farmers prepare to head into the fields to harvest their crops.
Dean Roberts, who farms near Kindersley in the west central part of the province, says producers want to see work undertaken to resolve the dispute, which has effectively shut Canadian canola out of a crucial market.
“We need action at the highest levels of government, urgently,” said Roberts.
China announced a 75.8 per cent preliminary tariff on Canadian canola seed earlier this month after the country launched an anti-dumping investigation in response to Canada’s tax on Chinese electric vehicles.
Roberts, who also serves as the chair of SaskOil Seeds, was at the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Agriculture Thursday in Saskatoon. He spoke to media after Premier Scott Moe and other provincial ministers met with federal counterparts and canola industry players. Roberts, who took part in the meeting, said he was pleased with what he heard.
“There is a plan for action. There is commitment to try to get something done for farmers in this stressful season,” he said.
Besides Moe, provincial ministers Warren Kaeding and Daryl Harrison were also on hand along with Kody Blois, the parliamentary secretary for Prime Minister Mark Carney. Federal Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald and Secretary of State for Rural Development Buckley Belanger attended the meeting virtually.
Addressing media after the meeting, Moe spoke at length about the importance of engagement with the Chinese government to resolve the current dispute. He said this will involve him travelling to the country for meetings.
“We need to engage at every level,” he said.
Thursday morning at a media conference in Regina, NDP leader Carla Beck criticized the Sask. Party government for not responding quickly enough to Chinese tariffs. Beck said Saskatchewan merchandise exports to China are down by just over 26 per cent in the first six months of this year, and added Moe is not using the provincial trade office in China effectively.
When asked to respond, a visibly annoyed Moe levied criticisms against the opposition for pledging to close the province’s trade offices during the last election.
During his remarks to media, Blois said the Government of Canada rejects the Chinese government’s claims that Canada is dumping canola into China. Blois said discussions during the meeting focused on policies that could be implemented domestically to support farmers and other impacted parties. He said market access was discussed, and that plans are in place to convene Joint Economic and Trade Commission next week to bring both countries together.
“The government is engaging with Chinese authorities,” he said.
It is estimated Saskatchewan farmers have seeded around 12 million acres of canola for this year’s crop. It is estimated the canola industry in Canada generates over $40 billion in economic activity annually, which supports over 200,000 jobs nationally.
In 2024, Canada exported $4 billion worth of canola seed to China. That same year, $920 million in canola meal and $20 million worth of oil were also exported.
Roberts said canola is an important crop for farmers as it generates healthy revenues which allows producers to make important investments in their operations. He said this is why canola is referred to as being a “cash crop.”
“Cash crop means the profit maker,” he said.
— with Canadian Press files
