Canada’s federal government is digging in its heels, refusing to budge on tariffs slapped on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), steel, and aluminum last October, even as a trade war with the U.S. escalates and China fires back. Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne made it clear in a fiery CTV Power Play interview with Vassy Kapelos: Ottawa’s 100% tax on Chinese EVs and 25% levy on steel and aluminum aren’t going anywhere.
“We’re standing strong to protect our industry, our workers, and our communities,” Champagne declared, brushing off Beijing’s retaliatory $4 billion hit on Canadian agriculture—like canola oil and pork—and U.S. President Donald Trump’s aggressive tariff threats. Originally aligned with Joe Biden’s push to counter China’s “unfairly low-priced” EVs and subsidized metals, Canada now faces pressure to rethink its strategy as Trump turns the screws on Ottawa instead.
B.C. Premier David Eby fired a salvo earlier this week, arguing the tariffs were a failed bid to cozy up to Trump—who’s now “indifferent” to Canada’s China stance—and warned of economic carnage if Canada gets squashed between the U.S. and China. “We don’t want to be collateral damage in a superpower showdown,” Eby told reporters Monday, pointing out Trump’s harsher focus on Canada over Beijing.
Champagne didn’t flinch. “China doesn’t play by the rules,” he shot back, accusing them of dumping cheap goods to gut Canadian industries. “We’re not here to let that happen.” With Trump’s trade war raging and China’s counters piling on, Canada’s sticking to its guns—for better or worse. Catch the full showdown on CTV’s video player.
Courtesy CTV News