Doug Ford says he got only hours' notice of China EV deal

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he and auto companies were told only a few hours before the federal government announced a tariff deal allowing about 50,000 Chinese-made electric vehicles into Canada; he warned the move could harm Ontario's auto workers.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he and provincial auto companies received only a few hours' notice about the federal government's tariff agreement with China on electric vehicles, and he repeated concerns about the impact on Ontario auto workers. The federal deal would allow nearly 50,000 Chinese-made EVs into Canada at a reduced tariff rate while China agreed to lower levies on canola seed and phase out other tariffs. Mr. Ford said the arrangement risks competitiveness for the province's auto sector and again urged Ottawa to permanently drop its EV sales mandate. The federal government has paused the mandate for this year and a senior official said a new domestic auto policy is due in February. What is reported: - Mr. Ford said he and Canada's auto companies were informed only hours before the public announcement of the tariff deal with China. - The deal would allow about 50,000 Chinese-made electric vehicles into Canada at a reduced tariff rate and is linked to Chinese reductions in levies on canola and other products. - A senior Canadian official reported that Ottawa plans to publish a new auto policy in February and that Canada gave advance notice to the United States of its Jan. 16 decision to cut tariffs on Chinese-made EVs. Summary: Mr. Ford said the timing and terms of the federal agreement could affect jobs in Ontario's auto sector and reiterated his opposition to the federal EV mandate. The federal government has paused the mandate for this year and has signalled a new auto policy will be released in February. Undetermined at this time.