China lifts 3-year ban on Canadian canola seeds, Ottawa says, in move seen as ‘positive step forward’
- China suspended imports of canola seeds from Richardson International and Viterra in March 2019 due to the detection of pests
- It also made shipments from other Canadian firms subject to enhanced inspections
China has removed import restrictions on Canadian canola seeds that have been in place for three years, Canadian officials said on Wednesday.
Canadian seed exports to China plummeted from C$2.8 billion (US$2.2 billion) in 2018 to C$800 million in 2019, then started to rebound to C$1.4 billion in 2020 and to C$1.8 billion in 2021, according to the Canola Council of Canada.
China’s Ministry of Commerce did not mention the removal of the restrictions during a regular press conference on Thursday.
We welcome this decision to remove the restrictions and immediately reinstate the two companies to allow them to export Canadian canola seeds
“Canada has been advised that China has reinstated access to its market for two Canadian companies that China Customs had suspended from exporting canola seed to China since March 2019,” Canadian Trade Minister Mary Ng and Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau said in a statement.
