In a statement on Tuesday, China’s commerce ministry said imports of the Canadian crop, also known as rapeseed, had increased 170 per cent over the last year and prompted a “continuous decline in prices.” Due to “unfair competition from the Canadian side,” the ministry said, “China’s domestic rapeseed-related industries continue to lose money.” (The Logic)

Talking point: Beijing’s probe is in retaliation for the Canadian government’s recent 100 per cent tariff on Chinese electric vehicles, which were introduced after some North American manufacturers warned that an influx of cheaper rival EVs would undermine the domestic industry. Canada exported around $5-billion worth of canola to China last year, and the investigation comes as Canadian farmers are harvesting their crops. China has previously banned other Canadian agricultural imports like beef, and Tuesday’s threats suggest a return to tit-for-tat trade actions between the two nations.