China begins anti-dumping probe into Canadian rapeseed

China announced on Monday the start of a one-year anti-dumping investigation into imports of rapeseed from Canada, just weeks before Ottawa's 100% tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles and other products come into force.

There has been growing trade tension between Beijing and the West in recent weeks after Canada, the United States and the European Union opted to impose tariffs on imports of electric vehicles from China.

The inquiry will examine imports from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2023, China's commerce ministry said in a statement, adding that preliminary evidence and information showed dumping of the oilseed, also known as canola, had taken place.

While noting that Canada adheres to "rules-based trade," Canadian Minister of Agriculture Lawrence MacAulay said the country's products meet the highest standards and its inspection systems are robust.

"I am deeply concerned by this announcement, and I want to be clear that our government will always support the agriculture sector as they pursue market access for their world-class products," he said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Monday in a bid to avoid a broad trade war.

China has already launched an anti-subsidy investigation into dairy imports from the European Union and an anti-dumping investigation into EU pork imports.

"A trade war would benefit no-one," Sanchez said, adding he was seeking to create a level playing field in cooperation with Chinese companies.

China's commerce ministry said there was a causal relationship between the dumping of Canadian canola imports and actual damage to domestic industry following significant rises in the imports and falling prices.

More than half of rapeseed exported by Canada makes its way