Former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig warns against Mark Carney's Chinese EV deal

Michael Kovrig, a former Canadian diplomat imprisoned in China from 2018 to 2021, cautioned on Tuesday that Prime Minister Mark Carney's electric vehicle agreement with China could create strategic vulnerabilities. The deal, announced during Carney's January trip to Beijing, involves Canada accepting 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles at reduced tariffs in exchange for China lowering duties on Canadian agricultural products like canola, seafood, and peas. Kovrig expressed concerns that this arrangement might lead to unfair competition and weaken Canada's industrial foundation. The policy has drawn criticism from U.S. officials, including President Donald Trump, who are uneasy about Canada's closer ties with Chinese EV manufacturers. Canadian auto parts producers and labor unions fear that Chinese joint ventures could eventually undermine the domestic vehicle industry. Kovrig's imprisonment followed Canada's arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou on a U.S. extradition request, highlighting the geopolitical tensions underlying the trade discussions.