Saskatchewan Premier Urges Ottawa to Scrap Tariff on Chinese EVs

• Moe ties Chinese EV tariff to retaliatory canola duties affecting Saskatchewan farmers.

• Alberta and Saskatchewan premiers call for Ottawa to rethink EV import restrictions from China.

• China’s final decision on canola tariffs expected in September, pending anti-dumping probe outcome.

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Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe has called on the federal government to lift its 100% tariff on electric vehicles imported from China, linking the issue to ongoing trade tensions affecting Canadian canola exports.

Speaking to reporters ahead of a planned trade mission to China next week, Moe said removing the tariff could help restore economic ties with Beijing, though he stressed the importance of maintaining strong relations with the United States.

“From Saskatchewan’s perspective, I would say, ‘Yes, let’s remove the EV tariffs,’” Moe said Tuesday. “We need to ensure that we are balancing off all the direct and indirect costs of [removing the EV tariff], because our largest canola market still remains to be the United States of America.”

Moe’s comments come amid retaliatory Chinese duties of nearly 76% on Canadian canola seed, imposed following Canada’s decision to match U.S. tariffs on Chinese EVs. China also levied 100% duties on Canadian canola oil and meat, further reducing the export value of one of Canada’s most economically significant crops.

The canola industry contributed $43 billion to Canada’s economy last year and employed 200,000 people. China is the second-largest buyer of Canadian canola after the U.S., making the tariffs a central concern for Prairie provinces.

Moe said he hopes to broaden Saskatchewan’s trade relationship with China without disrupting ties with Washington. “Herein lies the line that we need to walk,” he said.

The premier has invited Prime Minister Mark Carney and other federal ministers to join him on the upcoming trip, but said he has not yet received confirmation. “We don’t want to be rude and we understand that we’re going to have to work together with our federal government to come to a resolution,” Moe said.

Moe is the second Prairie premier to publicly support eliminating the tariff. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith told listeners on her weekend call-in show that Canada should find a new way to manage its relationship with China and the United States.

“Figure out a way to normalize the relationship,” Smith said. “Keep those two relationships separate.”

Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck also said EV tariffs could be a bargaining point. “If that means putting the removal of EV tariffs on the table, then that’s something that we should look at,” Beck told reporters Tuesday.

Source: Automotive News