Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling on Prime Minister Mark Carney to maintain Canada’s 100 per cent tariff on Chinese electric vehicles.
In an open letter to the prime minister, Ford says the measure is critical to securing a trade deal with the U.S. and protecting Canada’s auto sector.
“If the federal government removes its tariffs against Chinese-made EVs, you will contradict and undermine months of engagement with U.S. officials and lawmakers about the need to protect and enhance our highly integrated cross-border automotive supply chains,” Ford writes.
Ford says in the letter that the tariff protects 157,000 jobs and the $46 billion that the Ontario and federal governments have invested in developing Canada’s electric vehicle and battery supply chains since 2020.
Carney met with Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe on Tuesday to talk about China’s canola tariffs, which are largely seen as a retaliatory measure triggered by the electric vehicle tariff.
China charges a 76 per cent tariff on Canadian canola seed imports and a 100 per cent tariff on canola oil, meal and peas.
Moe recently travelled to China with Carney’s parliamentary secretary Kody Blois to discuss the trade dispute.
Ford does not mention the canola tariff in his letter to Carney.
International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu said the finance department is reviewing the electric vehicle tariff.
Sidhu added he’s been invited by Saskatchewan’s trade minister to take part in a future trade mission to China and is “strongly considering” the invitation.
