【Wen/Observer Net Liu Bai】Canada announced adjustments to its policy on importing Chinese electric vehicles, angering many "green-eyed" people.

General Motors CEO Mary Barra is the latest one.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Barra said on January 27 at a company-wide meeting that the agreement allowing thousands of low-cost Chinese electric vehicles to enter Canada would pose a "risk" to the North American automotive industry.

Barra stated that the agreement between Canada and China announced earlier this month contradicts the goal of building a strong North American industrial base, ensuring employment and national security in North America.

"I cannot explain why Canada made this decision," Barra said, "it could turn into a very dangerous situation."

She also complained about how Chinese automakers benefit from high tariffs imposed on importers in their home market, as well as technical restrictions that block outside competitors from entering their market.

General Motors declined to comment on this.

General Motors CEO Mary Barra

In August 2024, the Trudeau government, blindly following the U.S. policy, announced a 100% tariff on Chinese electric vehicles. During his visit to China, Carney adjusted the policy: the annual import quota for Chinese electric vehicles was raised to 49,000, with a most-favored-nation tariff rate of 6.1% within the quota, which was significantly reduced from the previous 100% surcharge.

The Canadian government stated that this number is less than 3% of Canada's current new car sales and expects the agreement to catalyze a large number of new Chinese joint ventures investing in Canada.

The office of the Canadian Prime Minister said that by the end of this decade, at least half of the imported electric vehicles will be required to have prices controlled below 35,000 Canadian dollars (about 178,000 RMB). Canada will work with Chinese automakers to ensure vehicles are certified promptly to meet Canada's vehicle safety standards.

Within Canada, some people are also uneasy about the tariff adjustment, with the same rhetoric as Barra.

On the 21st, Ontario Premier Ford, surrounded by representatives of automobile manufacturers and workers, publicly called on Canadians to boycott Chinese electric vehicles, even if Chinese cars are cheaper than local products, they should resolutely refuse to buy them.

"Boycott Chinese electric vehicles and support local car manufacturers," Ford claimed, saying that opening the door to Chinese electric vehicles and related investments may severely damage Canada's domestic auto industry and affect local jobs.

President of the Canadian Automobile Manufacturers Association Kingston echoed, stating that there are "massive subsidies from the Chinese government" behind the cars produced by Chinese automakers in Canada, which would "pose a risk to the continued cooperation between Canada and the United States."

The report pointed out that the supply chains of the United States and Canada are deeply intertwined, benefiting from trade agreements established 30 years ago, automotive parts and finished vehicles can flow smoothly between the two countries.

Canada is also a major sales driver for Detroit-based U.S. automakers: according to company sales reports, in 2025, the combined sales of Ford Motor Company, General Motors, and Stellantis, the owner of the Jeep brand, in Canada exceeded 700,000 units. Canada's vehicle safety and emission standards are also very similar to those of the United States, making it easy to re-export vehicles sold in Canada to the United States.

Over the past year, as the Trump administration imposed tariffs on vehicles and parts manufactured in Canada, the Canadian auto industry was hit, and U.S. automakers consequently reduced production.

Meanwhile, Chinese automakers have rapidly captured market share globally in recent years, but due to the three-digit tariffs imposed by the U.S. federal government on cars imported from China, they are effectively banned from entering the vast U.S. auto market.

This week, U.S. Treasury Secretary Bensinger also came out, further strengthening the Trump administration's 100% tariff "threat."

He harshly criticized Canadian Prime Minister Carney on a program on the 26th, warning that Canada would face a 100% tariff if it continues to push forward the agreement with China or even reaches a free trade agreement, becoming a platform for China's "dumping" goods.

Regarding the latest tariff threats from Trump, Canadian Minister for Trade with the U.S., Dominique Leblanc, said on the 24th that the Canadian government currently has no plan to reach a free trade agreement with China, and the relevant agreements between the two countries aim only to resolve the tariff disputes between the two sides.

Canadian Minister of Identity and Culture, Marc Miller, reminded on the same day, "We must take this seriously, but Canada is not negotiating a free trade agreement with China. This statement carries weight; we will take it seriously, while also doing what we can control."

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Original: toutiao.com/article/7600232498379719222/

Statement: The article represents the personal views of the author.