Ford urges Canadians to boycott Chinese-made EVs after federal trade deal with China
Ontario Premier Doug Ford urged a boycott of Chinese electric vehicles after a federal deal will allow about 50,000 Chinese-made EVs into Canada annually. He says the pact threatens Ontario auto jobs.
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By Torontoer Staff
Ontario Premier Doug Ford urged Canadians to boycott Chinese-made electric vehicles on Wednesday, following a federal trade agreement that will allow tens of thousands of Chinese EVs into the country each year. Ford framed the call as protecting Ontario auto jobs and supply chains, and criticised Prime Minister Mark Carney for not consulting provincial leaders ahead of the deal.
The federal agreement, announced last week by Carney, clears the way for roughly 50,000 Chinese-made electric vehicles to enter Canada annually in exchange for substantially reduced tariffs on Canadian agricultural exports. The announcement ends a 100 per cent tariff on Chinese EVs that Canada had applied since 2024 in alignment with the United States.
Ford’s stance and immediate reaction
Speaking at Queen’s Park with auto industry representatives and Unifor leadership present, Ford urged consumers to 'boycott the Chinese EV vehicles,' and to support manufacturers building vehicles in Canada. He said he had not been consulted by the federal government and that he has not spoken with Carney since the deal was announced.
Boycott the Chinese EV vehicles. Support companies that are building vehicles here. This is a team Canada approach. We gotta stick together.
Doug Ford
Ford characterised the arrangement as 'a terrible deal' for Ontario, saying it risks undermining local manufacturing jobs if Canadian consumers shift purchases to imported models assembled abroad or supplied with foreign parts.
The government and industry context
Carney has said the federal government needs to diversify trade partners as the United States reshapes its trade relationship with Canada. The China deal trades access for agricultural product tariff relief, while removing the tariff barrier that had kept Chinese EVs largely out of the Canadian market.
Ford raised supply-chain concerns, arguing that assembly in Canada without a domestic parts supply chain does little to sustain local manufacturing. He said he is open to a conversation about onshoring production, but only if it includes Canadian research and development, steel, aluminium and a meaningful domestic supply chain.
Even if they do start assembling, how about the supply chain? They come and they assemble, but they bring all Chinese parts in; that means nothing.
Doug Ford
Labour and political responses
Unifor, which represents many auto-sector workers in Ontario, joined Ford at the Queen’s Park event. National president Lana Payne spoke to the media alongside the premier, underscoring labour concerns about job security as market access changes.
Ontario Green Leader Mike Schreiner urged the provincial government to accelerate its own EV strategy, arguing incentives and investment in charging infrastructure would protect workers by creating demand for Ontario-made electric vehicles. He recommended rebates, expanded public charging and procurement programs to boost local production and sales.
The federal government’s deal with China threatens Ontario’s automotive industry. This is even more reason for the premier to take bold action to bring forward a complete plan to protect Ontario workers by going all-in on incentives to create demand for Ontario-made EVs.
Mike Schreiner, Ontario Green Leader
What Ford plans next
Ford said he will meet with Carney and other premiers next week to discuss the deal and to press for protections for Ontario auto workers. He signalled he may call for federal changes such as scrapping EV mandates and fees that he says raise vehicle costs, pending what he learns in those talks.
The premier also repeated earlier allegations that Chinese-made EVs posed security risks, a claim he has previously labelled 'spy cars.' The federal government has not echoed that language in its public statements about the trade deal.
Implications for consumers and the sector
For buyers, the deal could mean more EV options and lower prices as imports enter the market. For manufacturers and workers in Ontario, it raises questions about competitiveness, the depth of domestic supply chains and the effectiveness of provincial and federal incentives to keep production local.
- The deal permits about 50,000 Chinese-made EVs into Canada annually in exchange for lower tariffs on Canadian agricultural goods.
- Ontario had a 100 per cent tariff on Chinese EVs since 2024, aligned with U.S. measures.
- Ford is calling for a consumer boycott, protection measures for workers and immediate talks with the prime minister and premiers.
- Labour and opposition voices want stronger provincial incentives and infrastructure to boost demand for locally made EVs.
The coming meetings between provincial leaders and the federal government will be framed as a test of how Ottawa intends to balance new trade openings with support for Canada’s manufacturing base. Auto-sector stakeholders will be watching for concrete commitments on supply-chain investment, incentives and procurement policies.
Ford has made his position clear: he wants a plan that prioritises Canadian production and jobs. The next week of talks could determine whether that demand translates into policy changes or more targeted supports for Ontario’s auto industry.
Doug Fordelectric vehiclestrade dealOntarioauto industry
