Ford's SHOCK Plea: Will Chinese EV Tariffs Stay?! Carney's Trip Sparks Debate!

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has thrown a wrench into Prime Minister Carney's upcoming trip to Beijing, publicly urging him to maintain the existing tariffs on Chinese-made Electric Vehicles. This comes as Carney hopes to strengthen ties with China, a move that's understandably causing some friction back home.

Ford's SHOCK Plea: Will Chinese EV Tariffs Stay?! ...

Ford's primary concern, as he's made abundantly clear, is protecting Ontario's burgeoning electric vehicle industry. It's a fair point; the sector is still in its infancy and faces considerable pressure not just from the US, but potentially from a flood of cheaper Chinese EVs should those tariffs be lifted. He's obviously worried that a weakened trade stance would undermine the billions his government has invested in attracting EV projects to the province.

Speaking with reporters on Tuesday, Ford stated his intention to directly contact Carney – via text message, no less – to reiterate his position and hopefully prevent any softening of the current economic measures. You’ve got to admire the man’s direct approach, even if it might be seen as a bit unorthodox in diplomatic circles.

The root of the issue lies in the existing trade dynamic. Remember, the federal government slapped a 100% tariff on Chinese EVs back in 2024. China, in turn, retaliated with tariffs on Canadian canola and pork. This has created a real divide, pitting Ontario's aspirations for an EV boom against the well-established agricultural interests of Saskatchewan and Manitoba. It’s a classic case of conflicting provincial priorities, and it's not hard to see why Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, who is actually accompanying Carney on the China trip, is pushing for the removal of these tariffs. From his perspective, why cripple an existing, profitable sector for a potential future one?

Ford hasn't shied away from expressing his frustration. "I’m absolutely 100 per cent dead against this," he stated, acknowledging he hadn't yet directly spoken to Carney about it. That said, there's been a slight shift in his overall tone. He's recently expressed openness to Chinese companies establishing EV production facilities within Ontario. It seems he's realizing that engagement, rather than outright protectionism, might be a more sustainable long-term strategy.

Interestingly, when questioned about potential Chinese investors, Ford admitted that discussions haven't even started. "We’ll have to see," he said. "I’m going to sit down with the prime minister when he gets back, find out what the conversation is, and we’ll go from there." It's a wait-and-see approach, which, in the complicated world of international trade and provincial politics, might just be the most sensible course of action for now.