Canada imposes 100% tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles amid trade tensions

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Monday 100 percent tariffs on Chinese electric car imports, matching US measures seeking to fend off a flood of Chinese state-subsidized cars into North America.

Accusing China -- one of the world's largest exporters of electric vehicles (EVs) -- of "not playing by the same rules as other countries" in areas such as environmental and labor standards, he also unveiled a 25 surtax on imports of steel and aluminum products from China.

The United States and the European Union in recent months imposed tariffs on Chinese EVs of 100 percent and 38 percent, respectively.

Canada's auto manufacturing industry employs over 125,000 people, and Ottawa has poured billions of dollars into supporting its transition to electric vehicles, and firming up a domestic electric battery supply line.

At a news conference in Halifax on Canada's Atlantic coast, Trudeau said Chinese EV overproduction and hefty state subsidies for its auto sector "requires us to take action."

"Unless we want to get in a race to the bottom, we have to stand up, and that's what we're doing," he said. In a statement, the government called the tariffs a response to "this extraordinary threat."

The EV surtax, on top of existing import duties of 6.1 percent, will be imposed starting October 1 on Chinese electric and certain hybrid passenger automobiles, trucks, buses and delivery vans.

As well, Ottawa will limit eligibility for EV incentives to those made in countries with which Canada has free trade deals, which would exclude China.

Its surtax on imports of steel and aluminum products from China will be effective October 15.