Staff members work at a warehouse of Ganglu Iron & Steel Co., Ltd. in Tangshan, north China's Hebei Province, May 1, 2024. International Workers' Day is observed annually on May 1. (Photo by Liu Mancang/Xinhua)

Several leading Chinese industry groups have slammed the Canadian government's politically motivated decision to impose additional hefty tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminum products, as well as electric vehicles (EVs), warning the move will backfire. 

The China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products (CCCME) expressed on Monday its shock over the Canadian side's decision to impose 100 percent tariffs on Chinese EVs, a move that violates WTO rules.

China's EV exports to Canada are still in the early stages and are well-received in the market. The Canadian government has ignored feedback from companies and consumers in public consultations and enacted this discriminatory measure solely against Chinese EVs, the CCCME said, noting that this seriously violates WTO rules and disrupts the global green transition.

"We strongly support Chinese enterprises in defending their legitimate rights and urge Canada to make rational judgments based on its own interests, rather than following unilateral policies of certain countries," the CCCME said.

In addition to EVs, on August 26, the Canadian government announced that it would impose an additional 25 percent tariff on some aluminum products from China, starting October 15.

The China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association (CNIA) and China Iron and Steel Association (CISA) expressed strong opposition on Monday to Canada's recent decision to impose high tariffs on steel and aluminum products from China. 

China's aluminum industry has always focused on meeting domestic demand and promoting the high-quality development of the global aluminum industry.

The Chinese aluminum industry's development in terms of environmental standards, digitalization and high-end technology is among the best in the world. Comprehensive electricity consumption for electrolytic aluminum is about 1,500 kilowatt hours per ton, lower than that in North America, according to the CNIA.

Trade and cooperation between the aluminum industries of China and Canada have fully benefited from the development needs of the upstream and downstream enterprises in both countries, and are based entirely on fair and market-oriented principles, the CNIA said.

China's aluminum exports have not harmed Canada; on the contrary, they are welcomed by Canadian downstream industry players. China hopes that Canada will rectify its erroneous decision, the association said.

The remarks came as the CISA expressed strong opposition to Canada's decision to impose additional 25 percent tariffs on steel products imported from China.

China's steel industry has always focused on meeting domestic market demand, with only a small and low proportion of steel products exported to Canada, the CISA said.

The CISA noted that the Canadian government's unilateral decision to impose tariffs on Chinese steel products without any investigation undermines the multilateral trading system based on WTO rules and has an adverse impact on global steel trade and industry development.

Commenting on Canada's decision to impose additional tariffs, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently told reporters that what Canada is doing is "in alignment and in parallel with other economies around the world."

So-called "coordination with other economies in the world" in imposing additional tariffs on China is just an excuse for Canada to follow the US and lose its autonomy in economic and trade policies, Zhou Mi, a senior research fellow at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, told the Global Times.

Canada's move will have a very negative impact on itself, China-Canadian economic and trade ties, and the corresponding industries overall, Zhou said.

Global Times