Carney walks fine line between Washington and Beijing as Ottawa weighs removing EV tariffs
Canadian PM says he expects to meet senior Chinese leaders ‘in the coming month or so’ as both sides signal potential thaw
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Thursday said he expects to meet senior Chinese leaders in the “coming month or so” as part of a broad re-engagement with Beijing, but declined to say whether Ottawa will lift tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles.
“We are in the process of having those discussions on a much broader range of issues than single sectors and single trades,” Carney said at a press conference.
“And when we look at the auto sector, we take into account the dynamics with the United States, the ongoing negotiations there, and what the potential impact is.”
The issue came into the spotlight again in recent days after China’s ambassador to Canada, Wang Di, said that Beijing would drop the canola duties if Ottawa lifted its EVs tariffs.
Leaders of multiple western Canadian provinces where canola production is centred have in recent weeks implored Carney to strike a deal, while Ontario Premier Doug Ford – whose province anchors Canada’s auto sector – has flatly rejected the idea.