Prime Minister Mark Carney says he expects more European partnerships with Canada’s auto sector coming out of Ottawa’s budding relationship with the European Union but couldn’t say whether Chinese automakers are any closer to building cars here.
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automakers → say → cars
Speaking to reporters at a summit of European leaders in Dublin, the Prime Minister said Chinese investment in Canada’s auto sector will be one of the topics under discussion with China’s President Xi Jinping when the two meet next week in Shenzhen.
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two → speak → Shenzhen
Mr. Carney’s visit to the European Political Community summit in Ireland on Thursday is his first trip to the continent since it was confirmed last month that Canada is working toward becoming the first “associate member” of the European Union.
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Canada → confirm → Union
Back in January Mr. Carney’s government announced a strategic partnership with China and said flowing from that it expected significant Chinese auto investment in Canada “within three years.”
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it → announce → years
But on Thursday, Mr. Carney declined to say whether Canada was any closer to welcoming Chinese investment in the auto sector 10 months after the Beijing announcement with Mr. Xi.
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Canada → decline → Xi
“Canadian auto workers are some of the most productive auto workers in the world, are certainly the most productive in North America, and so we want real opportunity for those workers,” the Prime Minister said.
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Minister → want → workers
He noted South Korea and Japanese and Europeans have made or pledged investments in Canada’s auto sector, including within the electric vehicle industry.
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Korea → note → industry
Toyota and Honda have car plants, and other companies have pledged battery facilities.
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companies → have → facilities
The auto sector has Asian partners and European partners, he noted.
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he → have → partners
“I think you will see more European partnerships coming out of this,” the Prime Minister said, referring to growing Canada-EU relations.
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Minister → think → relations
He hedged on China, though, saying “the extent to which there’s Chinese investment depends on a variety of factors.
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extent → hedge → factors
He said he was also mindful of the fact discussions about Chinese auto investment have implications for relations with the United States.
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discussions → say → States
Canada-China co-operation on autos “also is relevant to our ongoing discussions with the United States,” Mr. Carney said.
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Carney → say → States
The U.S. has a 100-per-cent tariff in place on Chinese-made electric vehicles.
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U.S. → have → vehicles
Canada, which imposed the same tariff back in 2024 in tandem with the former Joe Biden Administration, broke with the United States in January to scale back 100-per-cent tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles in return for Beijing sharply reducing retaliatory levies on canola products and other agricultural shipments from Canada.
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Beijing → impose → Canada
The United States during negotiations on a new trade deal with Canada and Mexico has been pressing Ottawa into aligning its tariffs with the steep American levies on China.
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States → press → China
The Canadian government offered a more optimistic projection for Chinese auto investment in Canada.
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government → offer → Canada
Back in January, the Prime Minister’s Office said it expected within three years, the new partnership with Beijing “will drive considerable new Chinese joint-venture investment in Canada with trusted partners to protect and create new auto manufacturing careers for Canadian workers, and ensure a robust build-out of Canada’s EV supply chain.”
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partnership → say → chain
Mr. Carney is due to meet with Mr. Xi on Nov. 17 in Shenzhen where China is hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.
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China → meet → summit
In June, Industry Minister Mélanie Joly met with four Chinese companies in China about the possibility of them building electric vehicles in Canada.
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them → meet → Canada
The four companies – BYD, Chery, Geely and Shanghai Launch Automotive Technology – had been examining possible investments in Canada.
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companies → examine → Canada
Ms. Joly said Shanghai Launch’s proposal includes a partnership with British automaker Austin Motor Co.
The push to attract Chinese investment was an effort by the Carney government to save the Canadian auto industry as it faces an uncertain future because of protectionist United States trade policy.
The federal government has been repairing ties with China as it seeks to reduce dependence on U.S. trade.
In April, Ms. Joly rejected Stellantis NV’s plan to assemble electric cars with kits shipped from China at the automaker’s idled factory near Toronto, saying she wants cars to be made with Canadian parts and Canadian labour.
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cars → say → parts
Asked Thursday in Dublin, Mr. Carney said his government still rejects kit car assembly plants.
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government → ask → plants
The Aporia
