More Tariffs for Manitoba Producers, More Silence from Manitoba Agriculture Minister
WINNIPEG — Portage la Prairie MLA Jeff Bereza, PC Critic for Agriculture, is calling for more support for Manitoba canola producers after China slapped a 75.8% tariff on Canadian canola. The new tariff rate will be imposed on Aug. 14.
“What is the NDP government doing to support Manitoba canola producers?” asked Bereza. “I’ve talked with farmers and cattle producers across Manitoba and they are suffering. Drought conditions are plaguing the Interlake. U.S. and Chinese tariffs are causing widespread disruptions and uncertainty to southern Manitoba. 2025 has been one of the worst years for the ag industry and we’re hearing nothing from the NDP.”
China is the world’s largest importer of canola and sources nearly all of its supply from Canada. China said its anti-dumping probe launched in September 2024 found that Canada’s canola industry benefitted from “substantial” government subsidies and preferential policies.
“Their claims that Canada is ‘dumping’ Canadian canola into the Chinese market—to the detriment of domestic producers—is a fabrication,” said La Vérendrye MLA Konrad Narth. “This latest tariff action is the result of the federal government’s decision to place a 100% tariff on Chinese electric vehicles. This latest blow to Canadian agriculture producers, including those here in Manitoba, is the result of a decade of failed trade policies with China by the federal Liberals.”
Bereza called on the Kinew government to stand up for Manitoba canola producers and find new markets for this province’s canola.
“We’ve known these tariffs were coming. We’ve seen them before, and we’ll see them again,” said Bereza. “What has Wab Kinew’s NDP government done to open up new markets for Manitoba’s ag producers? He’s leaving Manitoba falling further behind other provinces like Alberta and Saskatchewan.”
“We all know the NDP won’t stand up for farmers,” said Narth. “Only Progressive Conservatives are speaking up for producers and the needs of rural Manitobans.”
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