La Jornada: Canada dictates a 10% tariff on canned goods; exempt to the US and Mexico

Ottawa. Canada announced the imposition of a 10 percent tariff on imports of canned vegetables, saying the measure, which excludes the United States, was intended to address challenges facing its domestic producers.

The tariff, which came into force on Friday for a maximum of 200 days, will also not apply to canned vegetables from Mexico, Israel, Chile and developing countries, due to Canada’s trade obligations, added the local Ministry of Finance.

The ministry said in a statement that the measure is provisional, pending the conclusion of an investigation by the Canadian International Trade Tribunal to study whether the increase in imports of canned vegetables was harming domestic processors.

The court is expected to conclude its work by September 9 and the tariff will be suspended if it is shown that Canadian vegetable producers have not been adversely affected by canned imports.

“The priority is to take a balanced approach that provides relief to our canned vegetables sector and protects food security and affordability for Canadians,” said Minister François-Philippe Champagne.