- Safiu Kehinde
China has vowed retaliation with countermeasures after Canada’s over 100 percent increment of import tariffs on Chinese electric cars.
Ottawa announced, on Monday, that it will levy a 100 per cent tariff on imports of electric cars from China starting on October 1.
In swift reaction, the Chinese embassy in Canada assured Chinese enterprises of taking all necessary action to safeguard their rights and interest.
“China will take all necessary measures to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises,“ the embassy said in a statement released on Monday evening.
Beijing went further to accuse Ottawa of violating the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) rules in what they describe as “politically motivated”
“this move is typical trade protectionism and (a) politically-motivated decision.” It said while stressing that the Canadian government is acting against its own citizens’ interests and the interests of tackling climate change.
In what can be described as a similar move, Canada appeared to have emulated the U.S. government, which imposed additional tariffs of 100 per cent on electric cars from China in May.
In the same vein, the European Commission followed suit in June with its own plans, which provide for different tariffs depending on the Chinese manufacturer.
There are concerns in United States, Canada and Europe over the flooding of cheap Chinese electric vehicles into their markets and drive local manufacturers and suppliers out of business.
They have argued that Chinese firms benefit from a government-imposed policy of overcapacity and laxer standards for the protection of workers and the environment.
It is virtually impossible to buy Chinese electric vehicles in the United States and Canada.