The contents of this article are written with authoritative materials and personal opinions. The source of the literature has been marked at the end of the article, so please know.
On September 24th, Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand announced that she would visit China in the near future. The core task is to push China to cancel tariff countermeasures against Canadian rapeseed and other products.
On the same day that the news came to light, China met with European Commission President Von der Leyen in New York. The two sides exchanged views on cooperation in trade, investment, environmental protection and other fields.
On September 23, China announced at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly that it will not seek new special and discriminatory treatment in current and future WTO negotiations.
The origins of the trade dispute date back to October 2024. Canada followed the United States by imposing a 100% tariff on Chinese electric vehicles and a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum products.The move is aimed at protecting the security of Canada’s domestic industries, and is in line with the U.S. “Indo-Pacific Strategy.”
However, Canada underestimated China's determination and ability to safeguard its own interests. On August 12, China's Ministry of Commerce determined that imported rapeseed originating in Canada was dumping and imposed a 75.8% deposit on all Canadian rapeseed exporting companies starting from August 14.
This countermeasure has precisely hit the sensitive nerves of the Canadian economy.China has been an important market for Canadian oil seed exports, with annual transactions of $3.6 billion. In the western part of Canada, 40,000 peanut seed farmers are in trouble, losing tens of thousands of dollars per capita.
Jim Iverson, president of the Canadian Canola Council, warned at an emergency meeting: “This is the worst industrial crisis since the 1980s.”
According to the internal report of the Alberta Department of Agriculture, 23 rapeseed processing enterprises in the province have implemented rotation breaks to reduce production, and more than 5,000 agricultural workers are at risk of unemployment.
China's counter-measures are not arbitrary, but based on sufficient investigation evidence and legitimate trade rules. After an 11-month investigation by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, it was confirmed that Canadian oil seeds were dumped at 23.7 percent.The subsequent anti-dumping measures were in full compliance with the Anti-Dumping Regulations of the People's Republic of China and WTO rules.
In the face of trade disputes, China has demonstrated mature market response capabilities while reducing imports of olive oil seeds from Canada, China has rapidly established diversified supply channels. On August 16th, COFCO signed a 50,000-ton rapeseed purchase agreement with the Australian Grain Commission.
Ukrainian agricultural giant Kernel Group also received an export quota of 150,000 tons to China. Data from the General Administration of Customs of China showed that the proportion of rapeseed imports from non-Canadian sources soared to 43% in the third quarter of 2025 from 7% last year, setting a record high.
While Canada is busy dealing with the consequences of trade countermeasures, the EU has chosen the path of cooperation with China. On September 24, China met with European Commission President Von der Leyen in New York.China pointed out that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the EU. China is willing to work with the EU to implement the consensus reached between the two sides and promote the healthy and stable development of China-EU relations.
China particularly emphasizes that, It is hoped that the EU will fulfill its commitment to keep trade and investment markets open, adhere to fair competition and WTO rules, and avoid pan-politization and pan-security of economic and trade issues.This statement directly responds to recent doubts about the EU’s trade policy.
Von der Leyen said that as the two major economies in the world, strengthening dialogue, enhancing understanding and deepening mutual trust between Europe and China is of great significance to both sides and global development. The European side is willing to actively implement the consensus of this year's China-Europe summit with China and properly resolve differences through dialogue and consultation.
On September 23, China announced at relevant activities of the 80th United Nations General Assembly that as a responsible large developing country, it will not seek new special and differential treatment in current and future WTO negotiations.
China Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a regular press conference on September 24 that this is not only a proactive measure to support the multilateral trading system, but also an important action for China to implement global development initiatives and global governance initiatives.
Li Zhengzhou, China's Ministry of Commerce's representative for international trade negotiations and deputy minister, stressed at the press conference that China remains the world's largest developing country, and that China's status and identity as a developing country has not changed.
He also said that there are three things that China will not change in current and future WTO negotiations. The status of development as a member will not change, the determination to defend the legitimate rights and interests of development as a member will not change, and the position to promote the liberalization and facilitation of global trade and investment will not change.
The decision has sparked positive reactions in the international community, Reuters that China’s decision reflects its commitment to building a more balanced and fair global trade system. Singapore's Straits Times reported that China's announcement of "nothing special" will undoubtedly enhance its international credibility.
Canada has fallen into a "sandwich dilemma" between China and the United States in the trade game. For a long time, Canada has relied strongly on the United States economically and diplomatically. Previously, it imposed tariffs on China, largely to cooperate with the United States 'trade policy. However, this strategy did not bring expected benefits to Canada.
While the United States imposed tariffs on China, it did not open more markets to Canada. Instead, it set up barriers to Canada in some agricultural products.
For example, the U.S. imposed a 50% tariff on Canadian steel products, resulting in a 30% drop in Canadian steel production.Canada's attempt to pass on costs by increasing taxes on China has further damaged its own interests.
Domestic political pressure in Canada is also increasing. On September 7th, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moy bypassed the federal government and flew directly to Beijing with an agricultural delegation. This "ice-breaking trip" was called "the rebellion of local governments" by Canada's Globe and Mail.
In Ottawa, the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture convened an emergency hearing, and the five major agricultural associations jointly called for the government to lift tariffs on Chinese goods.
China is also actively involved in the restructuring of global trade rules while dealing with the trade dispute with Canada.
Wang Yong, head of the WTO Department of Commerce, said that the next step, as always, China will firmly safeguard the multilateral trade system, and is willing to strengthen communication and cooperation with all parties to contribute to the construction of an open world economy.
China will take a clear-cut stand against unilateralism and protectionism and safeguard the basic principles and rules of the WTO such as non-discrimination.
China's series of measures in the field of international trade have demonstrated the responsibility and pragmatic attitude of a big country. China has safeguarded its legitimate rights and interests through precise and compliant countermeasures. China has boosted its relations with key economies such as the European Union, and through its self-constraint commitments, China has strengthened its credibility in the multilateral trading system.
The British "Economist" magazine commented: "China has shown how to resolve trade risks through market diversification strategy, which will become a model for emerging economies to deal with protectionism."
Craig Wright, chief economist at the Commonwealth Bank of Canada, noted: " For every day we delay resolving the crisis, we permanently lose 1% of our China market share."
Li Wei, director of the Institute of America and Oceania, Research Institute of the Ministry of Commerce of China, stressed: "Canada must first correct its discriminatory trade policies, and diplomatic rhetoric alone cannot rebuild mutual trust."
The game of international trade has never stopped, but the rules have changed. When the Canadian Foreign Minister was preparing to go to China for talks, the dialogue between China and the EU had already turned to how to deepen cooperation. This comparison itself sends a clear message to the world that trade relations based on equality and mutual respect are the way forward.
References:
1. "The Canadian Foreign Minister wants to visit China, what can he give to China?" 2025-09-24 10:08 | Source: Observer.com
2. "Canada is greedy and crying: China bought it from Australia again, and one purchase is 9 ships..." 2025-09-19 21:13 | Source: Observer.com
China will not seek new special and discriminatory treatment in WTO trade negotiations, WTO Director-General: Welcome, 2025-09-24 20:25