REGINA, SASKATCHEWAN, CANADA — Richardson and Viterra are once again able to export canola seed to China following the Chinese government’s decision to reinstate access for the two Canadian-based companies in mid-May. The two companies had been banned from exporting canola seed to China since March 6, 2019.

At that time, China had claimed the bans were due to pests it found in shipments. However, there also was speculation of political retaliation tied to the December 2018 arrest of Meng Wanzhou, an executive with Chinese telecommunications company Huawei.

“This is a positive step forward, restoring full trade in canola with China and ensuring that all Canadian exporters are treated equally by the Chinese administration,” said Jim Everson, president of the Canola Council of Canada (CCC). “We will continue efforts to nurture and maintain a predictable, rules-based trade environment. We thank Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau, International Trade Minister Mary Ng and Canada’s trade officials for their support in bringing about today’s announcement.”

Seed exports to China have fallen from C$2.8 billion in 2018 before the restrictions, to C$800 million in 2019, C$1.4 billion in 2020 and C$1.8 billion in 2021, according to the CCC.