Canadian farmers ask Ottawa to act on tariffs on Russian fertilizers

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Farmers in japanese Canada are feeling the brunt of tariffs imposed on Russia in March. They’re asking the federal authorities to behave to keep away from having to pay the worth.

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Russia is a serious producer of fertilizers, notably nitrogen fertilizers — nitrogen being one of many important parts for crops, together with phosphorus and potassium. In financial worth, it’s the second nation, behind the US, that imports fertilizers into Canada, in accordance with Statistics Canada.

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March 2 noticed the start of an order from the Canada Border Providers Company subjecting all items originating in Russia or Belarus to a 35-per-cent customs tariff. This measure is a part of the sanctions that Canada imposed on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.

In consequence, agricultural producers discover themselves with a hefty invoice as a result of a lot of them had already positioned their fertilizer orders lengthy earlier than this date.

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A number of organizations representing greater than 50,000 farmers are calling on the federal government to make sure that tariffs levied on fertilizers are paid on to farmers.

They are saying the federal government collected $34 million in tariff income on fertilizers imported into Canada this 12 months.

Amongst these organizations, the Producteurs de grains du Québec symbolize some 9,500 farmers producing corn, soybeans, wheat, oats and canola specifically.

Representatives from the Atlantic Grains Council, Producteurs de grains du Québec, Grain Growers of Ontario, Ontario Bean Growers Affiliation, Ontario Canola Growers and the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario have begun discussions with Ottawa.