Canada is evaluating the need to raise tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles after the White House announced substantial new levies on them, Trade Minister Mary Ng told Bloomberg News on Friday.
“We are looking at this very carefully and we have an open dialogue with our American partners,” Bloomberg quoted Ng as saying in a phone interview from Peru, where she is attending meetings of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.
Canada’s trade ministry and Ng’s office did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on the report.
The potential Canadian decision comes after U.S. President Joe Biden’s announcement earlier this week to significantly increase tariffs on Chinese imports, including electric-vehicle (EV) batteries, computer chips, and medical products. In response, China vowed immediate retaliation.
Under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, Biden will raise tariffs on EVs from 25% to 100% this year, bringing the total duties to 102.5%.
