Toronto 
Canada’s new trade agreement with the People’s Republic of China is drawing sharply different reactions from provincial leaders, highlighting regional divides over its economic impact.
Prime Minister Mark Carney finalized the deal during a visit to Beijing this week, agreeing to allow up to 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles into Canada annually at a 6.1% tariff, with half of those EVs expected to be priced under $35,000 by 2030.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford warned the agreement could undermine Canada’s auto sector. In a statement posted on X, Ford said, “China now has a foothold in the Canadian market and will use it to their full advantage at the expense of Canadian workers.” He argued the deal risks job losses by exposing Ontario manufacturers to low-cost imports without guaranteed investment, adding that it could complicate access to the U.S. market, Canada’s largest auto export destination.
Ford urged the federal government to “step up and support Ontario’s auto sector,” calling for regulatory alignment with key trading partners and an end to policies he says increase manufacturing costs. He pointed specifically to assembly plants in Brampton, Oshawa, and Ingersoll as being at risk.
In contrast, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe welcomed the agreement, focusing on agriculture. China is expected to cut tariffs on Canadian canola seed to about 15% by March 1, 2026, down from roughly 84%, reopening a $4 billion export market.
Moe said on X the deal is “very good news for Canada and Saskatchewan,” adding it would restore trade volumes and create new opportunities for producers. He pointed to the outcome as evidence of the value of coordinated federal, provincial, and industry-led trade efforts.
The agreement also eases tariffs on other agricultural exports, underscoring how the same deal may benefit some regions while raising concerns in others.
