Canada’s Pea Producers Deserve Better: Why India’s Tariff Blow Demands Urgent Action from Ottawa

Canada’s yellow pea farmers have been hit by a one-two punch first from China, and now from India. The world’s two biggest markets for yellow peas have both turned their backs, slapping steep tariffs that threaten to choke off billions in trade and devastate farm incomes across the Prairies.

India’s latest move a sudden 30 per cent import duty on all yellow peas effective November 1 couldn’t have come at a worse time. The South Asian nation had previously allowed duty-free imports until March 2026, but a swift reversal has left Canadian exporters scrambling. The only saving grace is a small exemption for shipments already in transit, with bills of lading dated on or before October 31, 2025. Beyond that, the door is closing.

Let’s be clear: India’s decision isn’t about Canada. Unlike China’s retaliatory tariffs which followed Canada’s duties on Chinese electric vehicles this one is about Indian domestic politics and farmers. Facing pressure from local producers angry about cheap imports dragging down prices, New Delhi acted to protect its own. That may make sense for India, but it leaves Canadian farmers paying the price.

Saskatchewan, the beating heart of Canada’s pulse industry, stands to lose the most. In 2024 alone, it shipped $480 million worth of yellow peas to India. Saskatchewan’s Agriculture Minister Daryl Harrison is right to sound the alarm. In a letter to Ottawa, he called on the federal government to get to the table fast to negotiate with India and find a way to restore tariff-free trade. It’s not just about economics; it’s about livelihoods. “These trade disruptions impact the entire supply chain and are having immediate consequences for producers, businesses, and jobs,” Harrison wrote. And he’s absolutely right.

The numbers paint a grim picture. Since February, yellow pea prices have already dropped by 43 per cent. For farmers, that’s not a statistic it’s the difference between staying afloat and going under. And with China already out of the picture due to its 100 per cent tariff, there’s simply nowhere for millions of tonnes of peas to go.

Greg Cherewyk, president of Pulse Canada, has been blunt about it. He saw the tariff coming but not this soon. Even with growing domestic processing capacity for pet food and livestock feed, those markets can’t replace India and China overnight. The loss of these two massive buyers means Canadian peas will pile up, prices will crater, and the ripple effects will be felt across rural economies.

Yes, diversification is important. Yes, expanding domestic processing and exploring new markets is the long-term path forward. But right now, farmers need Ottawa to act. Diplomatic urgency is required, not bureaucratic platitudes. Canada cannot afford to let another major trading relationship crumble while producers shoulder the fallout.

The bottom line is simple: our farmers are being squeezed between global trade politics and foreign protectionism. They’ve done their part growing, innovating, and feeding the world. Now, it’s time for Ottawa to do its part defending them on the world stage.