Canada considers surtax on Chinese critical minerals, batteries, solar products

OTTAWA (Reuters) – Canada said on Tuesday it was considering a possible tariff on Chinese critical minerals, batteries and parts, solar products and semiconductors, a move that could trigger further retaliation from Beijing.

Canada announced last month that it would impose a 100% tariff on imports of Chinese electric vehicles and announced a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum from China.

The Finance Ministry said in a statement that it was launching a 30-day public consultation period on the possible surcharge. It had conducted a similar exercise before the first tariff announcement.

“Canadian workers, the auto sector and the critical manufacturing supply chains that connect to it are currently facing unfair competition from Chinese producers, who are benefiting from the intentional policy of overcapacity led by the Chinese state,” he said.

The Chinese Embassy in Ottawa was not immediately available for comment.

China, which has deplored the tariffs unveiled in August, announced Monday that it was opening a year-long anti-dumping investigation into canola imports from Canada.

(Reporting by David Ljunggren, editing by William Maclean)