Sask. NDP demands province resolve tariff feud with China, protect producers

NDP MLA Sally Housser speaks to reporters on Tuesday. The NDP is calling on the province to end tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, a move they say would end tariffs on canola.

As Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe heads to China to join the Prime Minister in trade talks, the NDP is calling for an end to tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, a move they say would end tariffs on canola.

On Tuesday, the NDP referenced a report released last week from Statistics Canada, which shows a 37.5 per cent decline in Saskatchewan exports compared to last year.

“It’s clear that Saskatchewan workers, producers and our economy are the collateral damage in this trade war,” NDP MLA Sally Housser said.

The NDP said during his trip to China, Moe should be working nonstop to lobby Carney to end tariffs on Chinese EVs.

“We know full-well this will put a stop to the tariffs on canola, peas and pork. We can’t take no for an answer, the damage is too severe,” Housser said.

On Monday, Moe said he would be joining Prime Minister Mark Carney on his trade mission to China, to “advance interests that are important to Canadians.”

• Moe to join Carney on China trade mission, producers optimistic

“Canada and Saskatchewan need a strong relationship with China, and these meetings support the process of recalibrating how we work together,” Moe said in a statement on Monday.

Producers and suppliers in the province said they were optimistic about Carney’s visit to China, calling it a positive start towards rebuilding international trade relations.

Currently, China has imposed tariffs on Canadian exports including canola, seafood, and pork, which was a trade action in response to Canada imposing a 100 per cent tariff on electric vehicles and a 25 per cent tariff on steel and aluminum from China.

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Since those tariffs were enforced, Bill Prybylski, Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan president, said they have negatively impacted producers across the province. He said ultimately, producers need to see trade relations normalized.

“We’re optimistic that this is a good step in the right direction and we’re hoping for a positive outcome from these talks that will lead to more talks, that will hopefully ultimately end in some sort of an agreement to get rid of these tariffs,” he said.

Carney will be visiting China from Jan. 13 to Jan. 17, which will be the first by a Canadian prime minister since 2017.

-With files from Sierra D’Souza Butts, David Prisciak, Mike Le Couteur and Abigail Bimman