(Yicai) March 10 -- China will impose import tariffs on rapeseed oil, pork, and other agricultural and food products from Canada in response to the North American nation bringing in levies on Chinese electric vehicles as well as steel and aluminum products last year.

Starting on March 20, China will enforce 100 percent tariffs on Canadian canola oil, oil cake, and peas, while imposing 25 percent levies on Canadian pork and some seafoods, the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council, China’s cabinet, announced on the Ministry of Finance’s website on March 8. 

On the same day, the Ministry of Commerce said its anti-discrimination probe had found that Canada's 100 percent tariffs on Chinese EVs and 25 percent tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminum products imposed last October constituted discriminatory restrictions. China has hence decided to impose tariffs on some Canadian goods in accordance with relevant laws, it added.

The Customs Tariff Commission said Canada's unilateral imposition of levies is a typical trade protectionist approach, which constitutes discriminatory measures against China, seriously infringes on the legitimate rights and interests of the Asian nation, and undermines the economic and trade relations between the two countries.

China urges Canada to abide by the rules of the World Trade Organization and immediately correct its erroneous practices, it noted.

Bilateral trade in goods between China and Canada reached USD93 billion last year, up 4.5 percent from the year before, according to customs data. China's exports to Canada rose 3 percent to USD46.4 billion and imports jumped 6.1 percent to USD46.6 billion.

Since the beginning of this year, China has repeatedly struck back against discriminatory tariffs imposed by other countries as global trade tensions have increased mainly due to the tariff policies of US President Donald Trump. 

After the United States announced a 10 percent tariff on all Chinese goods last month, China said it would impose additional tariffs on certain US products, including 15 percent on coal and liquefied natural gas and 10 percent on crude oil, agricultural machinery, large-displacement vehicles, and pickup trucks, starting on Feb. 10.

The US imposed another 10 percent tariff on China this month, which was countered by 15 percent tariffs on chicken, wheat, corn, and cotton imports and levies of 10 percent on sorghum, soybeans, pork, beef, aquatic products, fruits, vegetables, and dairy products from today. 

Editors: Dou Shicong, Martin Kadiev