With Premier Scott Moe in China with Prime Minister Mark Carney over the next few days, Provincial Agriculture Minister David Marit told reporters Tuesday morning his optimism for the tariffs on canola and other agri-food products is high.
"I would have to think, for the Prime Minister to be going, that they probably think that there's some end to this, and I would hope that there would be," Marit said at the Western Development Museum following an announcement of ADF funding allocated to 39 crop research projects.
"I'm sure our Premier's going to be having the full discussion about the canola tariffs and the tariffs and the pea tariffs that we're having as important for the food supply chain and everything, and the impact it's having, not only here to the producers, but for the food that they do also need in China."
When asked by Kevin Hursh, Chief Agricultural Editor of SaskAgToday.com, if it is reasonable to be optimistic unless Canada can make movement on tariffs on Chinese electric tariffs, Marit admitted he doesn't know enough of those dynamics and the possible ramifications from the United States, but remains hopeful progress can be made.
"So all I can be hopeful for is that our Premier will really try and relate to the Chinese government the importance of getting the food chain back in line and getting the supply chain and the canola movement back into China." Marit added.
China has tariffs on canola oil, meal, and seed, as well as peas, pork and seafood, while Canada has tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, steel and aluminium.
Canola and pea prices have been affected since the Chinese tariffs were implemented last spring, in response to Canada's tariffs imposed around October 2024.
Carney's visit, which goes until Saturday, is the first one to China by a Canadian Prime Minister since 2017. Moe was in China a few months ago with Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, Kody Blois.
