Chinese electric vehicles divide Canadians, poll finds

A reader poll found about 46% said they would not buy Chinese-made EVs while roughly 41% said they would; the article reports Canada agreed to allow up to 49,000 Chinese EVs into the country at a 6.1% tariff as part of a trade deal.

Canadians are divided over whether to buy Chinese-made electric vehicles following a recent trade agreement with China. The article reports the deal would allow up to 49,000 Chinese EVs into Canada at a most-favoured-nation tariff rate of 6.1 per cent and includes a provision that half of those vehicles cost less than $35,000 by 2030. The agreement is tied to China dropping or reducing retaliatory tariffs on several Canadian agricultural products. Debate over the move has intensified as parts of Canada’s auto sector face layoffs and plant changes. Key points: - A reader poll on INsauga recorded 3,447 responses (45.9%) saying they would not buy a Chinese-built EV, 3,072 (40.9%) saying they would, and 984 (13.1%) unsure. - The article reports the trade deal allows up to 49,000 Chinese EVs into Canada at a 6.1% tariff and includes a 2030 affordability measure reported as supporting half of those imports costing under $35,000. - The agreement is reported to include reductions or removals of Chinese retaliatory tariffs on Canadian agriculture such as canola seed and meal, pork, seafood and peas. - Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Unifor national president Lana Payne are quoted as saying the deal risks giving subsidized Chinese automakers a foothold that could affect the domestic auto industry; the piece notes recent auto-sector job impacts such as the overnight shift cut at GM’s Oshawa Assembly, affecting about 700 jobs. - The article notes there is no clear timeline for when Chinese-made EVs could arrive in Canada, though an academic cited said they could appear at Canadian ports in a matter of weeks; it also states the poll reflects the views of participating readers and is not representative of Ontario’s population. Summary: The poll shows participating readers are divided between concerns about domestic auto jobs and interest in potentially lower-priced EVs, while the reported trade agreement links EV imports with changes to agricultural tariffs. Undetermined at this time.