15.4°C Vancouver

Aug 27, 2024 3:36 PM - The Associated Press

China accuses Canada of protectionism over 100% tariffs on electric vehicles

Share On
china-accuses-canada-of-protectionism-over-100-tariffs-on-electric-vehicles
Chinese brands aren't yet a player in Canada. However, Chinese EV company BYD established a Canadian corporate entity last spring and has indicated that it intends to try and enter the Canadian market as early as next year.(Photo: The Canadian Press)

China on Tuesday accused Canada of protectionism after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's governmentimposed a 100% tariffon imports ofChinese-made electric vehicles, matching U.S. duties on Chinese-made EVs.

The Chinese Commerce Ministry said in a statement the tariffs would disrupt the stability of global industrial and supply chains, severely impact China-Canada economic and trade ties and damage the interests of enterprises in both countries.

“China is strongly dissatisfied and firmly opposes this,” the statement read.

“Canada claims it supports free trade and the multilateral trading system based on (World Trade Organization) rules, but it blatantly violated WTO rules and announced it will take unilateral tariff measures by blindly following individual countries. It is typical trade protectionism,” it added.

The ministry urged Canada to “immediately correct its wrong practices” and said that Beijing would take any necessary measures to defend the rights and interests of Chinese companies.

Canada’s announcement came after encouragement by U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan during a meeting with Trudeau and Cabinet ministers on Sunday. Sullivanbegan his first visit to Beijingon Tuesday.

Chinese officials are likely to raise concerns about theAmerican tariffswith Sullivan as Beijing continues to repair its economy, which was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. In May, U.S. President Joe Bidenslapped major new tariffson Chinese electric vehicles, advanced batteries, solar cells, steel, aluminum and medical equipment.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Tuesday urged Canada to “not politicize economic and trade issues.”

“China’s burgeoning electric vehicle industry is the result of continuous technological innovation, a well-established industrial and supply chain and full market competition,” spokesperson Lin Jian said.

Trudeau said that Canada also would impose a 25% tariff on Chinese steel and aluminum.

“Actors like China have chosen to give themselves an unfair advantage in the global marketplace,” he said.

One of the Chinese-made EVs imported into Canada is from Tesla, made at the company’s Shanghai factory, though the U.S. company could avoid the tariff by switching to supplying Canada from factories in the U.S. or Germany.

Chinese brands aren't yet a player in Canada. However, Chinese EV company BYD established a Canadian corporate entity last spring and has indicated that it intends to try and enter the Canadian market as early as next year.

Chinese firms cansell EVs for as little as $12,000. China’s solar cell plants and steel and aluminum mills have enough capacity to meet much of the world’s demand. Chinese officials argue their production keeps prices low and would aid a transition to a green economy.

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said that Canada also will launch a 30-day consultation about possible tariffs on Chinese batteries, battery parts, semiconductors, critical minerals, metals and solar panels.

“China has an intentional state-directed policy of overcapacity and oversupply designed to cripple our own industry,” Freeland said. “We simply will not allow that to happen to our EV sector, which has shown such promise.”

Latest news

softball-excitement-in-surrey-team-canada-takes-on-new-zealand-and-ukraine-in-canada-cup
BCJul 08, 2025

Softball excitement in Surrey, Team Canada takes on New Zealand and Ukraine in Canada Cup

The Canada Cup has begun at Softball City in Surrey. This is the 30th edition of the Canada Cup and Team Canada, fresh from its gold medal performance at the Pan-American championship in Columbia, will play two matches in Surrey. The Canadian women's team will face New Zealand at 6 p.m. today and then Ukraine at 8:30 p.m. The final match of the tournament will be played on Sunday. Apart from the Canadian team, strong teams like Czechia, Greece, Kingdom of the Netherlands, Israel, Triple Crown Colorado and Team BC are also participating in the tournament. Today, players from Team Canada were a
WorldJul 08, 2025

Indian nurse Nimisha Priya to be hanged in Yemen on July 16

Indian nurse Nimisha Priya is likely to be hanged in Yemen on July 16. 37-year-old Nimisha is originally from Kerala. She was convicted of the murder of Yemeni citizen Talal Abdo Mehdi. According to the report, Samuel Jerome Baskaran, a social worker who is in talks with government officials and Talal's family in Yemen, confirmed that a letter has been issued to prison authorities, in which the execution has been fixed for July 16. He said that options are still there and the Indian government can intervene to save her life. Nimisha started a clinic with Talal in 2015 but soon they had dif
WorldJul 08, 2025

USA: Four members of a Hyderabad family die in road accident

Four members of an Indian family died in a road accident in Texas, USA on Monday. The deceased have been identified as Tejaswini, Sri Venkat and their two children. The family belonged to Hyderabad. According to information, a mini-truck hit their vehicle, after which the car caught fire. The accident took place in Greene County. The family had gone to Dallas for a vacation. They were returning after meeting their relatives in Atlanta when the accident occurred. Authorities confirmed that all four victims died on the spot. Arrangements are being made to send their bodies to Hyderabad for c
icc-issues-arrest-warrants-for-taliban-leaders-over-persecution-of-women-and-girls
WorldJul 08, 2025

ICC issues arrest warrants for Taliban leaders over persecution of women and girls

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants Tuesday for the Taliban’s supreme leader and the head of Afghanistan’s supreme court on charges of persecuting women and girls since seizing power nearly four years ago. The warrants also accuse the leaders of persecuting “other persons non-conforming with the Taliban’s policy on gender, gender identity or expression; and on political grounds against persons perceived as ‘allies of girls and women.’” The warrants were issued against Taliban supreme leader Hibatullah Akhunzada and the head of Afghanistan’s Supreme Court, Ab
over-1-million-in-property-damages-after-vandalism-spree-in-alberta-town-rcmp
AlbertaJul 08, 2025

Over $1 million in property damages after vandalism spree in Alberta town: RCMP

Mounties say a man has been charged with causing over $1 million in damages in a vandalism spree in a rural Alberta town. Vermilion RCMP say officers received a complaint Sunday that a provincial government building and six sheriffs vehicles were damaged. They say officers arrived to find windows shattered in the building and in the vehicles. Windows in the town's courthouse were also broken and drive-thru display screens at a nearby McDonald's were damaged. The 23-year-old accused faces charges of mischief and break-and-enter and has been remanded into custody. Vermillion is

Related News