Ontario Premier Doug Ford has urged Prime Minister Mark Carney to maintain the significant tariffs on electric vehicles during his upcoming trip to China. The tariffs were imposed by Canada, aligning with former U.S. President Joe Biden, at a rate of 100% to safeguard the domestic automobile industry.
In response, China retaliated by imposing tariffs on products like canola, seafood, and pork, leading to pressure on Ottawa to lift these duties for the benefit of Canadian farmers and producers. Ford, a strong advocate for Ontario’s auto sector, emphasized the importance of standing firm on the tariffs during a recent news conference.
Ford highlighted the need for foreign automakers to establish manufacturing facilities in Canada and employ local workers, rather than importing vehicles. The upcoming discussions between Carney and Chinese President Xi Jinping will cover various topics, including trade, energy, agriculture, and international security.
The relationship between Canada and China faced strains in 2018 due to the detention of Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, following Canada’s arrest of a Huawei executive. The agenda for the upcoming talks also includes a discussion on electric vehicle tariffs, with Ford emphasizing the quality of Canadian auto workers as a key factor.
Notably, the Chinese electric vehicle company BYD had expressed interest in investing in Canada, according to China’s ambassador. However, the ambassador cited challenges and obstacles that led to the company abandoning its plans. BYD’s presence in Canada was seen as an opportunity to offer high-quality and affordable electric vehicles to the Canadian market.
