China has imposed a 73.5 per cent preliminary anti-dumping tariff on Canadian pea starch, adding fresh uncertainty for Prairie agriculture despite recent efforts by Canada and China to improve trade relations.

The tariff took effect July 1 after China's Ministry of Commerce concluded Canadian pea starch had been sold below fair market value, causing injury to Chinese producers. The measure remains in place while the investigation continues.

Pea starch is a value-added product made from yellow field peas, a major Prairie crop and China has been an important export market for Canadian processors.

The investigation began in August 2025 after Canada imposed tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and certain steel and aluminum products, prompting a series of retaliatory trade actions from Beijing.

Earlier this year, the federal government secured reduced Chinese tariffs on several Canadian agricultural products, including canola, and the suspension of a 100 per cent tariff on Canadian peas. However, the new pea starch tariff shows several trade disputes remain unresolved.

The decision drew criticism from Conservative agriculture critic John Barlow, along with trade critic Stephanie Kusie and foreign affairs critic Eric Duncan. In a joint statement, they said the new tariff demonstrates the Liberal government's trade strategy has failed to provide Canadian farmers with long-term certainty.

The Conservatives argued producers and processors continue to face ongoing trade barriers affecting products including peas, canola, pork and seafood despite the government's recent negotiations with Beijing.

While the tariff applies to processed pea starch rather than raw peas, a prolonged disruption could affect demand for Prairie-grown peas if Canadian processors lose access to the Chinese market.