Ontario farmers say Canada’s fertilizer tariff punishes them for Russia’s war
As the federal government continues its efforts to punish Russia economically for its invasion of Ukraine, Ontario agriculture groups and representatives of Canada’s fertilizer sector are warning that cash crop farmers and consumers are the ones bearing the cost.
In March, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland and International Trade Minister Mary Ng announced that in retaliation for Russia’s illegal invasion, Canada was imposing a 35 per cent general tariff on virtually all Russian imports — including nitrogen fertilizer that Eastern Canadian growers rely on to boost crop yields.
The timing — mere weeks from the start of planting season — couldn’t have been worse. Farmers make often risky decisions about what crops to grow and place orders for seed and fertilizer months in advance.
Something’s gotta give.
