Unifor, Canada’s largest private sector union, is pressing the federal government to adopt stringent measures to safeguard Canadian autoworkers against what it describes as unfair trade practices by China in the electric vehicle (EV) sector.
As part of ongoing public consultations, Unifor is advocating for a series of robust actions, including surtaxes and enforcement mechanisms, to align Canada’s policies with those proposed by the United States and the European Union.
“Canada has everything we need to build the electric vehicles of the future in our own backyard, including a highly-skilled workforce, deep roots in auto manufacturing, and the critical minerals needed to supply the industry,” said Unifor President Lana Payne. “The United States and the European Union have responded proactively to the threat posed by unfair imports, and now it’s time for Canada to do the same.”
Unifor’s recommendations to the federal government include:
- Imposing a surtax above existing tariff rates on Chinese-made electric vehicles (100%), batteries (25%), and critical minerals (25%) to match U.S. measures.
- Protecting Canada’s supply chain transition with additional surtaxes on critical component parts from China, such as electric motors and battery cell materials.
- Extending and expanding EV purchasing incentives for Canadians, while disqualifying vehicles subject to surtaxes under section 53 of the Customs Tariff Act.
- Including “connected vehicle” technology among the list of sensitive areas for foreign investment reviews and monitoring outcomes of a U.S. investigation into information and communications technology in vehicles.
- Equipping Canada’s border services with resources and guidance to withhold goods suspected of being produced with forced labour, including from China.
“Working-class communities all across Canada have been hurt before by governments that have signed unfair trade deals or failed to listen to workers and organized labour,” Payne added. “Canada must implement these recommendations to protect good auto jobs and build a more prosperous, fairer, cleaner, and resilient economy for all.”
Unifor represents 320,000 workers across various sectors in Canada.