Impending Chinese retaliatory tariffs on some canola products has led Manitoba farmers and industry members to critique the Canadian government for not doing enough to protect farmers from financial harm and make amends with China.
Jason Johnston, who operates a grain farm in Darlingford, Man., about 117 kilometres southwest of Winnipeg, said provincial and federal politicians haven’t acknowledged the impacts farmers are facing since China’s Commerce Ministry announced it will impose 100 per cent tariffs on canola oil and oil meal starting Thursday.
“In the week since this announcement has been made, canola has dropped $2 a bushel, so on my farm that would mean about an $80,000 loss every year,” Johnston said, adding that he farms approximately 1,000 acres of canola on crop rotation each year.
“We are definitely in the red on canola at these prices.”
The looming tariffs are in retaliation for Canada’s 100 per cent tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehiclesand a 25 per cent levy on Chinese aluminum and steel products …