Ford stands by Chinese EV tariffs, Moe says they protect non-existent Ontario industry [Video]

Premier Doug Ford is standing by his support for massive tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles despite murmurs of discontent from another provincial leader who suggests the move helps Ontario at the expense of his province.

The issue of Chinese-made electric vehicles rose to the centre of Canadian political debate last summer, when Canada began to worry that cheap vehicles assembled in China could saturate the domestic market.

Ford raised concerns that would undercut Ontario’s fledgling electric vehicle manufacturing sector and he demanded barriers be introduced to protect it.

“I’m calling on the federal government to immediately match or exceed U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports, including at least a 100 per cent tariff on Chinese electric vehicles,” Ford said in the summer of 2024. “Unless we act fast, we risk Ontario and Canadian jobs.”

At the time, Queen’s Park and Ottawa had offered Honda, Volkswagen, Stellantis and Ford Motor either direct infrastructure funding or …