As China Probes Canadian Canola Imports, Here’s How Other Countries Diversified Following Beijing’s Past Bans

A farmer rakes hay in a field surrounded by canola fields near Cremona, Alta., in a file photo. The Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh

China’s renewed threat of trade sanctions against Canadian canola, following Ottawa’s tariffs on its electric vehicles, marks the latest instance of an apparent retaliatory tactic by Beijing.

A glance at some recent examples shows that several countries targeted by the communist regime’s retaliatory bans managed to withstand them by diversifying into other markets. Australia redirected its barley exports after China imposed duties in 2020 that effectively blocked exports to that market. Taiwan marketed its pineapples to new buyers following China’s 2021 restrictions.