China has “requested consultations with the Canadian side” at the World Trade Organization (WTO) after Ottawa announced plans to impose 100% tariffs on Chinese imports of electric vehicles, steel and aluminum, the Commerce Ministry said.
“Canada is flouting WTO rules and violating its commitments to the organization,” a ministry spokesperson said in an online statement.
He criticized the Canadian surtaxes as “a classic unilateral and protectionist measure that seriously harms the multilateral trading system and disrupts global industrial supply chains for electric vehicles, as well as steel and aluminum products.”
“China totally opposes this. We urge Canada to respect WTO rules and immediately correct these erroneous measures,” he said.
On Tuesday, China already announced an anti-dumping investigation into Canadian rapeseed, in an apparent retaliatory measure against the huge customs surcharges imposed by Ottawa.
Canada is one of the world’s leading producers of canola, an oilseed used to make cooking oil, animal feed and biodiesel, and China has historically been one of its major customers.
The Canadian surcharges target Chinese-made cars, trucks, buses, as well as electric delivery vans and some hybrid models.
They are due to come into force on October 1, in addition to the existing customs duties of 6.1%.
The only electric vehicles manufactured in China and imported into Canada are currently those of the American brand Tesla.
Steel and aluminum tariffs will take effect October 15.
“China does not play by the same rules as other countries,” said Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to justify these 100% surcharges announced at the end of August.
In recent months, trade conflicts have been increasing between China and Western countries, particularly the European Union.
Beijing has launched a procedure targeting the European milk sector and products such as fresh cheese and milk, the day after Brussels announced a 36% surcharge on Chinese electric vehicles. The United States has also announced a surcharge, amounting to 100%, as in Canada.