January 16, 2026
Canola for cars, eh?
Canada slashes 100% tariffs on Chinese EVs to 6%
Ottawa opens the gate to 49k cheap Chinese EVs; commenters predict Tesla panic and US fury
TLDR: Canada will let 49,000 Chinese electric cars in each year at roughly 6% tariffs, aiming to lower EV prices. Comments split between cheering cheap wheels and warning of Tesla/US fallout, with political jabs and memes fueling a fiery North America trade drama.
Canada just cracked the EV door wide open: Prime Minister Mark Carney’s new China deal lets in 49,000 electric cars a year at about 6.1% tariffs, with an eye on budget models like the BYD Seagull under $35K. In return, China trims tariffs on Canadian canola, and frees up lobster and crab. There’s talk of Chinese joint ventures building an EV supply chain in Canada—cue the factory speculation. But the real fireworks are in the comments. Top voices like Blake say the 49k will sell out in months, predicting BYD investment and a bigger quota soon. Meanwhile, the Tesla crowd is split: “Tesla goodbye!” cries one, while another hopes this forces Musk into a super-cheap model. Politics crash the party too—mindslight drops a spicy “Another resounding Trump success!” take, blaming US trade theatrics for pushing Canada to chart its own course. The Washington angle is pure drama: commenters imagine the “Fortress North America” policy cracking, with Canada choosing affordable climate wins (and canola) over alignment. Link-drop warriors pile in with CBC Q&A and EV sales data. Meme-watch: “BYD = Bring Your Discounts,” and “Maple-syrup tariffs traded for battery deals.” It’s price wars, politics, and poutine-fueled popcorn all at once.
Key Points
- •Canada will allow up to 49,000 Chinese EVs into the country annually at a 6.1% tariff.
- •This marks a shift from prior Canadian alignment with U.S. 100% tariffs on Chinese EVs.
- •The quota targets lower-cost EVs, with expectations that over 50% will have import prices under $35,000 within five years.
- •China will cut tariffs on Canadian canola seed from about 85% to 15% and lift restrictions on lobster and crab.
- •The agreement is expected to spur Chinese joint-venture investment to build Canada’s domestic EV supply chain.