Canada putting itself in extremely awkward position

China announced that it will impose additional tariffs on some products imported from Canada based on the results of an anti-discrimination probe on Saturday.

Effective from March 20, an additional 100 percent tariff will be imposed on imported rapeseed oil, oil cakes, and peas originating from Canada, while aquatic products and pork will be subject to an additional 25 percent tariff.

The decision comes after China's anti-discrimination probe determined that Canada's restrictive measures against some Chinese products have disrupted normal trade order and harmed the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises.

Earlier, without any investigation, Canada imposed unilateral restrictions on Chinese-made electric vehicles, and steel, aluminum and other products imported from China. So it was the Canadian side that seized the initiative to undermine China-Canada economic and trade relations.

Both Ottawa's 100 percent duties on Chinese-made EVs and 25 percent duties on Chinese steel and aluminum started in October last year following the call of the then US administration to form a united front against China. Yet the incumbent Donald Trump administration has discarded its predecessor's Canada policy and started levying punitive tariffs on Canada last week along with China and Mexico. Although it suspended the duties on Canada and Mexico later, it only seeks to maximize the US' gains in future extortion.

China's countermeasures, which unusually came about five months after Canada's irrational moves, show Beijing's restraint and hope that Ottawa will reassess its trade policies toward China, as the US under the new administration doesn't regard Canada an ally as before, but as another target for extortion.

Most of the Canadian imports Beijing selected this time for its retaliatory tariffs are agricultural produce and seafood that constitute a big part of Canada's exports to China, one of its largest trading partners. So Beijing's move should serve to remind Ottawa of the irrationality of its ongoing attempts to woo the US by suggesting its willingness to continue to hold a "united front" with the US against China.

Notably, Beijing has unveiled its retaliatory measures about 12 days ahead of them coming into effect, clearly indicating its hope that Ottawa will take advantage of the window of opportunity to analyze the situation and correct its wrongdoings.