Ford provides fiery response to new China-Canada EV, canola oil deal

Premier Doug Ford has given a fiery response to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s newly announced deal with China on electric vehicles and canola oil.

Ford says the deal will come at the expense of Canadian workers.

“By lowering tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, this lopsided deal risks closing the door on Canadian automakers to the American market, our largest export destination, which would hurt our economy and lead to job losses,” says Ford in a statement.

“Instead of importing made-in-China vehicles, the federal government needs to be focused on working with Ontario to bring investment and jobs to factory floors in Brampton, Oshawa, Ingersoll and across the province, where assembly lines are at risk or have already left the country.”

Carney says he has reached a deal with China to allow tens of thousands of Chinese electric vehicles into the country in exchange for lower canola duties.

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He says the deal would help boost the economy and Carney expects Beijing to drop canola meal duties to 15 per cent by March.

Tariffs will also be dropped for Canadian lobster, crab and peas.

In return, Canada will allow up to 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles into the Canadian market at a 6.1 per cent tariff rate.

The pact comes just hours after Carney met with President Xi Jinping on a trip to Beijing, ending a multi-year trade dispute that began when the last liberal government levied EV tariffs to protect Canada’s auto sector.

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Ontario New Democratic Party Leader Marit Stiles has come out with her own response to the deal.

“It’s the same Doug Ford playbook; do nothing, then complain to grab headlines. Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe flew to China with the Prime Minister to advocate for his province’s canola farmers. Meanwhile, Ford was sitting at home, leaving Ontario workers with no one to fight for them. If you’re not at the table, you’re not fit for Premier,” Stiles says.

“Let me be clear: Mark Carney is selling out our auto sector. China gets 49,000 guaranteed vehicle sales. Ontario workers get ‘expected’ investment in ‘three years.’ Our workers deserve guarantees — you don’t protect an industry with maybes.”

READ MORE: PM Carney begins visit to China to boost trade ties