BEIJING, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) — China will launch an anti-discrimination investigation into Canada’s tariff increases on electric vehicles as well as steel and aluminum products imported from China, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said Tuesday.
Anti-dumping investigations will also be launched into imports of rapeseed and certain Canadian chemicals, a ministry spokesman said in an online statement.
The Canadian side adopted unilateral restrictive measures of a discriminatory nature on imports from China, ignoring the opposition of many parties, the spokesperson said, adding that China is very dissatisfied with such measures and firmly opposes them.
The country will also appeal these practices to the World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement mechanism, the spokesman said.
The anti-discrimination investigation will be carried out in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Chinese foreign trade law, and corresponding measures will be taken subsequently in light of actual conditions.
The move comes after Canada announced last week that it will implement a 100 percent surtax on all electric vehicles manufactured in China, starting October 1, and will impose a 25 percent surcharge on imports of steel and aluminum products also from the Asian country starting October 15, 2024.
Citing recent reports from the Chinese domestic industry, the spokesperson pointed out that Canadian rapeseed exports to China have increased significantly, and dumping is suspected. Canada exported rapeseed to China worth $3.47 billion in 2023, with volume growth of 170 percent year-on-year and prices continuing to decline, according to the spokesperson.
“Affected by unfair competition from the Canadian side, Chinese rapeseed-related industries have continued to suffer losses,” he said.
The anti-dumping investigation on Canadian rapeseed exports will be conducted in accordance with relevant Chinese laws and regulations as well as WTO rules, while the investigation on relevant Canadian chemical products will be launched at the request of domestic industries in the country.
“China’s position is clear. The country will take all necessary measures to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies,” the spokesman concluded.
