担忧经济疲软，缓解国内压力，加拿大减免部分中美钢铝关税

陷入与中美贸易争端的加拿大近日“退后一步”，减免部分从中美进口的钢铁和铝产品的关税，以缓解国内压力。

据路透社21日报道，一份政府文件显示，加拿大财政部在对2024年中国进口附加税减免令的修正案中，对从中国进口、加拿大不生产的部分钢铁和铝产品给予关税减免；同时免除部分美国钢铁和铝产品的关税，这些产品主要与公共卫生、国家安全、制造业、农业和食品相关。加拿大财政部已向业界通报，该命令于10月15日生效，更多细节将于11月5日公布。

加拿大广播公司称，联邦政府已经通过“枢密令”（英联邦国家的立法途径——编者注）向数十家加拿大公司提供减免，以便它们不必为特定产品的“报复性关税”付出代价，涉及的产品则是企业认为供应短缺或依据现有合同所需的。

加拿大联邦财政部长商鹏飞在一份声明中表示，新的豁免措施旨在帮助加拿大工人和家庭，使他们免受“反制措施”的损害。他还补充称：“豁免程序旨在保护下游行业的从业人员……以应对特殊情况。”

去年下半年开始，加拿大先后对一系列中美输加钢铁和铝产品加征关税。对美国是报复其对加拿大钢铁和铝产品征收的关税，而对中国则被认为是追随美国的贸易举措。此外，加前总理特鲁多领导的政府还对中国电动汽车加征了100%的关税。

加拿大的举措很快招致中方反击。中方对加拿大进口油菜籽发起反倾销调查，于今年8月采取临时反倾销措施，对加拿大公司征收75.8％的保证金。此外，中方还对加拿大菜籽油、水产品、猪肉加征关税。这令加拿大政府面临来自国内农业的压力。

近期，加拿大总理卡尼派出官员前往中国进行试探性接触，外长阿南德上周对中国进行了访问，加媒称这意在修复对华关系。“重塑对华关系将很困难。”加拿大《环球邮报》援引专家的分析称，要想取得成功，卡尼必须设法说服中方取消对加拿大油菜籽的措施，但现阶段又没意向降低对中国电动汽车进口的限制。

面对美国，加拿大近期已表示不会继续对美施加更多报复性关税。卡尼上周称“加拿大正努力达成协议，为铝、钢铁和能源等行业争取一些减免”，“现在是谈判的时候了”。

缓和对美贸易关系在加拿大国内面临行业抵制。加拿大广播公司报道称，加拿大钢铁生产商协会首席执行官兼总裁科布登表示，“我们很失望地看到，美国生产商被给予了为期两个月的广泛关税豁免，而我们却无法进入他们的市场。”

随着贸易冲突持续，加拿大国内对经济增长悲观情绪上升。彭博社20日报道称，超过半数的加拿大人表示，他们认为未来六个月经济将走弱。加拿大政策制定者表示，他们与钢铁和铝行业的出口商进行了交谈，后者报告了“尤其疲软的前景”。这些公司还表示，关税“导致大量裁员”。有加拿大网民在相关新闻下评论称：“与美中相比，加拿大消费者群体较小，现实情况是加拿大在与这些国家的关税战中没有太多的筹码。”

译文：

Worried about economic weakness and easing domestic pressure, Canada has reduced some steel and aluminum tariffs between China and the United States

Canada, which is embroiled in a trade dispute with China and the United States, has recently taken a step back by reducing tariffs on some steel and aluminum products imported from China and the United States to ease domestic pressure.

According to a Reuters report on the 21st, a government document shows that the Canadian Ministry of Finance will provide tariff reductions for some steel and aluminum products imported from China and not produced in Canada in the amendment to the 2024 China Import Surcharge Reduction Order; Simultaneously exempting tariffs on certain US steel and aluminum products, primarily related to public health, national security, manufacturing, agriculture, and food. The Canadian Ministry of Finance has informed the industry that the order will take effect on October 15th, and more details will be announced on November 5th.

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation stated that the federal government has provided exemptions to dozens of Canadian companies through "pivot orders" (a legislative pathway in Commonwealth countries - editor's note) so that they do not have to pay the price for "retaliatory tariffs" on specific products that companies consider to be in short supply or necessary under existing contracts.

Canadian Federal Finance Minister Shang Pengfei stated in a statement that the new exemption measures are aimed at helping Canadian workers and families avoid harm from "countermeasures". He also added, "The exemption procedure aims to protect practitioners in downstream industries... in response to special circumstances

Since the second half of last year, Canada has imposed tariffs on a series of steel and aluminum products imported from China and the United States to Canada. To the United States is to retaliate against its tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum products, while to China is seen as following the trade measures of the United States. In addition, the government led by former Prime Minister Trudeau has imposed a 100% tariff on Chinese electric vehicles.

Canada's measures quickly provoked a counterattack from China. China initiated an anti-dumping investigation into imported rapeseed from Canada and took temporary anti-dumping measures in August this year, imposing a 75.8% deposit on Canadian companies. In addition, China has imposed tariffs on Canadian rapeseed oil, seafood, and pork. This puts pressure on the Canadian government from domestic agriculture.

Recently, Canadian Prime Minister Carney sent officials to China for exploratory contacts, and Foreign Minister Anand visited China last week, which Canadian media said was aimed at repairing relations with China. Reshaping relations with China will be difficult, "according to experts cited by The Globe and Mail of Canada. To succeed, Carney must find a way to persuade China to lift measures on Canadian rapeseed, but currently has no intention of reducing restrictions on Chinese electric vehicle imports.

Facing the United States, Canada has recently stated that it will not continue to impose more retaliatory tariffs on the US. Carney said last week that "Canada is working hard to reach an agreement to negotiate some exemptions for industries such as aluminum, steel, and energy," and "now is the time for negotiations.

The easing of trade relations with the United States is facing industry resistance in Canada. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported that the CEO and President of the Canadian Steel Producers Association, Cobden, said, "We are disappointed to see that American producers have been granted a two month broad tariff exemption while we are unable to enter their market

As the trade conflict continues, pessimism about economic growth is rising within Canada. Bloomberg reported on the 20th that over half of Canadians believe the economy will weaken in the next six months. Canadian policy makers have stated that they have spoken with exporters in the steel and aluminum industries, who have reported a "particularly weak outlook". These companies also stated that tariffs have led to a significant number of layoffs. A Canadian netizen commented under the relevant news, "Compared with the United States and China, the consumer group in Canada is relatively small, and the reality is that Canada does not have much leverage in the tariff war with these countries