“The provisional rate will be set at 75.8%, effective from Thursday,” the statement said.

China, the world’s largest importer of canola – also known as rapeseed – sources nearly all of its supplies of the product from Canada.

“This is huge. Who will pay a 75% deposit to bring Canadian canola to China? It is like telling Canada that we don’t need your canola, thank you very much,” said one Singapore-based oilseed trader.

China’s most active Zhengzhou rapeseed meal futures slid 3%, the biggest daily drop since June 26.

The policy marks a shift from the conciliatory tone struck in June when China’s Premier Li Qiang said there were no deep-seated conflicts of interest between the countries during a phone call with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

The Canadian embassy in Beijing did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

“This move… will put additional pressure on Canada’s government to sort through trade frictions with China,” said Trivium China agriculture analyst Even Rogers Pay.

“It also provides an opportunity for Australia,” Pay added, which looks set to regain access to the Chinese market with a few test cargoes this year after a years-long freeze in the trade.

Canadian canola exports to China totalled C$5 billion (US$3.63 billion) in 2023, the last full year before the investigation began.

“Separately, China also launched an anti-dumping investigation into pea starch imported from Canada, which will last a year and could be extended for six months,” it said in a statement.