By all accounts, growing canola requires careful management: the small, shallow-planted seeds are sensitive to moisture, extreme temperatures and competition from weeds.

But skillfully managing the elements turns out to be nothing compared to the perfect diplomatic balance that is required to get the product to customers.

The U.S. is the biggest market for Canadian canola; China is the second biggest.

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The Americans have deputized Canada in their trade war with Beijing, encouraging Ottawa in 2024 to follow their lead with 100 per cent tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. But the Trump administration has since become an erratic partner, and the Carney government is now seeking to reduce dependence on the U.S. market.

Meanwhile,

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