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ARTICLE · 12 NOVEMBER 2025

No Relief In Sight: Canada-China Tariffs, Retaliation And The WTO Dispute Panel

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In October 2024, the Government of Canada announced a sweeping 100% tariff on electric vehicles (EVs) imported from China alongside a 25% tariff on Chinese steel and aluminum.

CanadaInternational Law
Matthew Douglas
Matthew Douglas
Randy Brunet
Randy Brunet
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In October 2024, the Government of Canada announced a sweeping 100% tariff on electric vehicles (EVs) imported from China alongside a 25% tariff on Chinese steel and aluminum. These measures were introduced to address concerns about Chinese industrial overcapacity, state subsidies and the impact of low-cost imports on Canadian manufacturers. The tariffs are intended to protect Canada's domestic EV, steel and aluminum industries.

In response, the Chinese government implemented retaliatory tariffs on key Canadian exports, effective July 2025. These countermeasures have impacted Canadian agricultural products, including a 76% levy on canola seed and a 100% levy on canola oil, meal and peas coming into China. China has characterized Canada's tariffs as "discriminatory" and has signaled a willingness to escalate trade restrictions if the dispute continues.

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