A BYD 07 EV model electric car is displayed at the Beijing Auto Show in China on April 25, 2024. (Pedro Pardo/AFP via Getty Images)
By NTDTV Staff,
Ontario Premier Doug Ford described his Monday meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney as “very productive,” following recent federal moves to open Canada’s market to Chinese electric vehicles.
Ford told reporters his discussion with the prime minister was “very, very productive,” after he met with Carney and Mélanie Joly in Toronto on Jan. 26 in Toronto, adding he was “very confident that we’re going to move forward.”
“We’re all part of Team Canada,” Ford said. “Sometimes families disagree… but I’d probably say 98 percent we agree on.”
The meetings came after Carney’s trip to China earlier this month, where Ottawa signed several agreements with Beijing. One deal would reduce Canadian tariffs on Chinese electric vehicle imports from 100 percent to 6.1 percent for the first 49,000 vehicles, in exchange for China lowering tariffs on Canadian canola from 85 percent to 15 percent.
Ford, whose province hosts most of Canada’s auto manufacturing plants, has criticized the agreement, saying it gives China a “foothold” in the Canadian market that will be used “at the expense of Canadian workers.” He has also said the deal lacks guarantees of immediate investment in Canada and has called on Ottawa to drop the EV mandate and federal fees affecting the auto industry.
The premier said he learned of the agreement only “a few hours” before it was announced and would have preferred advance notice due to its impact on Ontario’s auto sector. On Jan. 21, Ford called on Canadians to boycott Chinese-made EVs, appearing alongside representatives from the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association, Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association, and National Unifor, who said the deal would harm domestic manufacturing.
Following Monday’s meetings, Ford adopted a more measured tone but reiterated his priority was protecting auto workers. “I think I’ve been pretty clear how I feel, but we’re going to move forward,” he said. “We have one request—build the vehicles here, protect the auto sector.”
Asked what Carney said to address his concerns, Ford said, “I don’t get into private conversations I have with the prime minister.”
Carney has said he expects Chinese automakers to invest in Canada and open production facilities, but Ford has warned Ottawa is inviting a “flood” of “cheap made-in-China” vehicles without firm economic guarantees.
Joly said she has met with “many Chinese automakers” and will continue discussions. “We have to be not naive, but also… open minded,” she said, adding Ottawa would “never jeopardize or compromise the security of Canadians,” including concerns related to EV software.
Joly said the federal government has established an auto task force with Ontario and will present a national auto strategy aimed at coordinating governments, attracting investment and protecting workers. Asked about changes to the EV mandate, she said the government is reviewing multiple policies and will have “more to say in the coming weeks.”