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Ontario Premier Doug Ford is facing sharp criticism Federal government’s new trade agreement with ChinaWarning that a deal allowing thousands of Chinese-made electric vehicles into Canada would weaken Ontario’s auto industry and put Canadian workers at risk.
The comments come after Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a tariff-quota agreement with Beijing that will allow 49,000 Chinese EVs to enter the Canadian market at significantly lower tariff rates. In return, China is reducing tariffs on Canadian canola and removing tariffs on many other agricultural products – a deal the federal government has described as a “historic” reset in Canada-China relations.
However, Ford says the agreement is a direct threat to Ontario’s manufacturing base.
in a statement on FridayThe Prime Minister said, “China has now gained a foothold in the Canadian market and will use it to its full advantage at the expense of Canadian workers.“
They argued that the deal opens the door to the growth of low-cost Chinese EVs without securing similar investment commitments in Canada’s auto sector, supply chain or broader economy.
Ford warned that reducing tariffs on Chinese-made EVs could also jeopardize access to the U.S. market – which is the destination for the vast majority of Ontario-made vehicles – if U.S. regulators view Canada as a backdoor to Chinese imports.
“This unbalanced deal threatens to close the doors to the U.S. market, our largest export destination, to Canadian automakers, hurting our economy and destroying jobs,” Ford said.
Ford asks Ottawa to change course
Ford urged the federal government to “fix this mess” by adopting policies that he says would make Ontario’s auto sector more competitive.
Ford added, “That means making the sector more competitive by ending the electric vehicle mandate, harmonizing rules with major trading partners, and eliminating federal tariffs that do nothing but add thousands to the cost of making a vehicle and drive away investment.”
“Instead of importing vehicles made in China, the federal government needs to focus 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.”
Ford’s statement concluded that “Canadians expect and deserve a federal government that gives them every opportunity to succeed” and urged the Prime Minister to “work with Ontario to strengthen Canada’s auto industry, not weaken it.”
The federal government hailed the agreement as a practical step toward stabilizing relations with China after years of diplomatic and trade tensions. The deal is expected to reduce Chinese tariffs on Canadian canola seed by March and eliminate tariffs on canola meal, lobster, crab and peas until at least the end of 2026.
Prime Minister Carney has said that the arrangement reflects “today’s world” and will help diversify Canada’s trade relationships while supporting farmers and exporters.