If Canada eliminates taxes on electric vehicles, China will also remove tariffs on Canadian canola seeds.
2025/10/15
According to the website of the Chinese Embassy in Canada, on October 10, Chinese Ambassador to Canada Wang Bo accepted an exclusive interview with Kapelos, host of CTV's flagship political talk show "CTV Question Period," a mainstream Canadian television network. Below is the transcript of the interview:
"Ask the Moment": Mr. Ambassador, it’s a pleasure to welcome you back to "Ask the Moment." Thank you for taking the time to accept this interview.
Ambassador Wang Di: Thank you for inviting me again.
"Question Time": I'd like to start by discussing the most significant current friction between our two countries—namely, Canada's tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and China's retaliatory tariffs on Canadian canola seeds and other agricultural products. My question is simple: Do you believe China's tariffs on Canadian agricultural goods are directly linked to Canada's tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles?
Ambassador Wang Di: The issue you mentioned is indeed a sticking point in the current China-Canada economic and trade relationship. I agree with your remarks just now. China’s imposition of tariffs on Canadian agricultural products is a retaliatory measure against Canada’s unilateral, discriminatory tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles as well as steel and aluminum products. As I’ve stated many times before, if Canada corrects its approach, China will naturally adjust its own measures accordingly.
"Question Time": Do you mean to say that if Canada removes tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, China will also eliminate tariffs on Canadian agricultural products?
Ambassador Wang Die: If Canada lifts the unilateral, discriminatory measures it has imposed on China, China will naturally make reciprocal adjustments in return. For instance, if Canada removes tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, China will likewise eliminate tariffs on relevant Canadian products.
《 "Question Time": Canada has always believed that its imposition of tariffs on Chinese products was justified—though, of course, China doesn’t see it that way. As you’ve mentioned before, China and Canada can expand their bilateral relationship based on mutual interests that truly benefit both sides. Yet now, China is leveraging the fact that it remains the largest export market for Canadian canola seeds as a means of retaliation. In this context, is it perhaps naive for Canada and China to still pursue closer ties?
Ambassador Wang Die: Bilateral trade is inherently mutually beneficial and win-win. Over the past several decades, China and Canada have achieved remarkable success in economic and trade cooperation. Looking back at history, we can see that all these accomplishments have been built on the foundation of mutual respect and shared prosperity. The current tensions and differences between China and Canada over tariff issues were not triggered by the Chinese side. As the saying goes in China, "Only the one who tied the knot can untie it." Therefore, it would be unfair—and even counterproductive—to blame China for this issue. Instead, the problem stems from Canada itself, and it is Canada that must first take the initiative to rectify its discriminatory measures. Only then will China naturally adjust its own policies accordingly.
"Question Time": I understand your perspective, and I’m also aware that the Canadian government was the first to impose tariffs on electric vehicles. I’d like to reiterate that the then-Canadian government provided several justifications for implementing these tariffs, including national security concerns, the need to protect domestic industries, and alignment with U.S. policies, among other reasons. While I appreciate your point, I’m not here to blame either side. Today, the Canadian government’s policy is focused on expanding bilateral and economic-trade relations with China. Canola seeds are a perfect example—Canadians generally believe that most of our canola exports should go to China. Yet, China has strategically leveraged this very fact, hitting us hard precisely where Canada remains vulnerable. My question is: in light of this situation, should Canada still strive to build a stronger relationship with China?
Ambassador Wang Di: As I just mentioned to you, the essence of economic and trade relations lies in mutual benefit and win-win cooperation. As long as we promote bilateral economic and trade collaboration in the spirit of mutual benefit and win-win outcomes, such cooperation will surely continue to flourish. However, if you go against this very principle—seeking your own interests unilaterally at the expense of the other party—then no matter whether it’s with China or any other country, this kind of economic and trade partnership simply cannot last.
