Ottawa is considering tariffs on Chinese batteries, semiconductors – National [Video]

Just weeks after Canada imposed greater tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles and on Chinese steel and aluminum, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said Ottawa is launching a 30-day consultation period to consider further trade restrictions on Beijing.

“As people saw at the cabinet retreat, the prime minister announced that we will be imposing tariffs on EVs from China and on steel and aluminum from China,” Freeland told reporters at the Liberal caucus retreat in Nanaimo, B.C., on Tuesday.

“I’m announcing a 30-day consultation on imports to Canada from China of batteries, battery parts, semiconductors, critical minerals and metals and solar products.”

Last month, the federal government raised tariffs on Chinese EVs to 100 per cent and on Chinese steel and aluminum to 25 per cent.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said this was being done to spur EV manufacturing in Canada.

The announcement brought Canada in line with recent U.S. trade policy changes but spurred China to …