TORONTO – Ontario Premier Doug Ford has issued a scathing critique of a new federal trade agreement with China, warning that the decision to allow tens of thousands of Chinese-made electric vehicles (EVs) into Canada will undermine Ontario’s automotive industry and jeopardize thousands of local jobs.
The controversy follows Prime Minister Mark Carney’s announcement of a strategic trade deal reached with Beijing on Friday. Under the agreement, Canada will slash its 100% tariff on Chinese EVs to a significantly lower rate of 6.1% for an initial quota of 49,000 vehicles annually. In exchange, China has agreed to drastically reduce tariffs on Canadian agricultural products, including lowering duties on canola seeds from 84% to approximately 15%.
A Threat to Manufacturing and Workers
Premier Ford described the deal as “lopsided” and a direct threat to the province’s manufacturing base. He argued that flooding the market with low-cost, subsidized Chinese EVs—some expected to be priced under $35,000—will undercut Ontario’s domestic EV supply chain and manufacturing hubs in cities like Brampton, Oshawa, and Ingersoll.
“Make no mistake: China now has a foothold in the Canadian market and will use it to their full advantage at the expense of Canadian workers,” Ford stated in a post on X.
He criticized the federal government for inviting a “flood” of cheap imports without securing equivalent investment commitments for Canada’s own economy or auto sector.
Risks to U.S. Trade Relations
A primary concern raised by the Premier is the potential damage to Canada’s relationship with its largest trading partner, the United States. Ford warned that by breaking rank with the U.S.—which maintains a 100% tariff on Chinese EVs—Canada risks being viewed as a “backdoor” for Chinese goods into North America.
This, he suggested, could provoke retaliatory measures from Washington and complicate upcoming negotiations for the USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement). Ford emphasized that the Ontario auto sector is deeply integrated with the U.S. market, and any trade friction could lead to massive unemployment.
