Canada wants to be 1st in North America to build EV with Chinese knowledge: senior official

Canada wants to look at joint ventures and investments with Chinese companies within the next three years to build a Canadian electric vehicle with Chinese knowledge, according to a senior Canadian official.

The official, who spoke on the condition they not be named, said the goal is for Canada to become the first country in North America to build this type of EV.

It’s a fundamental error, the official said, to think that U.S. President Donald Trump will not allow Chinese electric vehicles into the United States.

The official also said that Canada kept the Trump administration in the loop and gave it advance warning of its decision on Friday to allow up to 49,000 Chinese EVs into the Canadian market each year at a 6.1 per cent tariff — down from a 100 per cent tariff imposed in 2024.