A visitor learns about an electric vehicle (EV) from an employee at the 2024 China Auto Show in Shanghai on August 8, 2024. The auto show runs from August 8 to 11 at Shanghai's National Exhibition and Convention Center. With an exhibition area of 40,000 square meters, this year's expo showcases more than 200 smart EV models. Photo: Lu Ting/GT

The Chinese Embassy in Canada on Monday expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to Canada's latest decision to impose additional tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles (EVs) and other products regardless of China's repeated objection and solemn representations, vowing to take "necessary measures" to safeguard Chinese companies' legitimate rights and interests.

Canada's move is typical trade protectionism and a politically-driven act that violates WTO rules and goes against Canada's self-claimed support for free trade, and runs counter to controlling climate change, a spokesperson of the Chinese embassy said in a statement.

The move serves no one's interest, the spokesperson said, noting that it will harm normal China-Canada trade cooperation, harm the interests of Canadian consumers and enterprises, and has adverse impact on Canada's green transition and the global efforts to address climate change.

Following the US' footstep, Canada announced on Monday it is launching a 100-percent tariff on China-made electric vehicles, the Associated Press reported.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada also plans to impose a 25-percent tariff on Chinese steel and aluminum, according to the AP report. "Actors like China have chosen to give themselves an unfair advantage in the global marketplace," the AP quoted him as saying.

The rapid growth of Chinese EV-making is the result of China's continuous technological innovation, the country's full-fledged supply chain, and free and robust competition in the Chinese market, while not subsidies, the spokesperson said. 

Canada's "overcapacity" accusation targeting China's EV sector is groundless, the spokesperson added, noting that the development of China's EV industry has made an important contribution to the global fight to mitigate climate change and facilitate green transformation.

"We urge Canada to respect the facts, comply with WTO rules and immediately correct its wrong-doing by not politicizing trade issues," the spokesperson said.

China will take necessary measures to safeguard Chinese companies' legitimate rights and interests, the spokesperson noted.