Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced 100 percent tariffs on imports of Chinese electric cars, joining US measures aimed at preventing an influx of Chinese subsidized cars into North America, AFP reported.
Accusing China of "not playing by the same rules as other countries" when it comes to environmental and labor standards, he also announced a 25 percent surcharge on imports of steel and aluminum products from China.
In recent months, the United States and the European Union have imposed tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles of 100% and 38%, respectively.
Canada's auto industry employs more than 125,000 people, and Ottawa has invested billions of dollars in supporting the transition to electric vehicles and strengthening its domestic supply line for electric batteries.
At a news conference in Halifax, on Canada's Atlantic coast, Trudeau said China's overproduction of electric cars and heavy government subsidies to its auto sector "require us to take action."
"Unless we want to go into a race to the bottom, we have to stand up and that's what we're doing," he said. The government called the tariffs a response to an "extreme threat".
The EV surcharge, on top of existing import duties of 6.1%, will be imposed from October 1 on Chinese electric and some hybrid cars, trucks, buses and vans. | BGNES