TORONTO: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he'll discuss electric vehicle manufacturing with Chinese President Xi Jinping when they meet next week, but downplayed expectations of imminent production of Chinese cars in Canada.
"The extent to which there's Chinese investment depends on a variety of factors," Carney said. "It will be one of the discussions with President Xi."
He added that any discussion of Chinese EVs (electric vehicles) is also "relevant in our ongoing discussions with the United States," without elaborating.
Carney was asked about the topic as he attended the European Political Community summit in Dublin, the first stop on a lengthy trip that will also take him to the Philippines, Cambodia and China.
He also said European automakers may also emerge as new partners for Canada's beleaguered auto sector, which is structured for exporting to the US but is struggling to adapt to tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump.
"I think you will see more European partnerships coming out of this relationship," Carney said, an apparent reference to Canada's ongoing effort to become an associate member of the European Union.
Carney is planning to meet with Xi on Nov 17, shortly after he arrives in Shenzhen to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders' summit.
He has previously said the two plan to discuss ways to expand the countries' trading relationship.
During Carney's visit to Beijing in January, he unveiled a pact that saw China cut tariffs on Canadian agriculture products in return for Canada creating a quota that allows as many as 49,000 Chinese-made EVs to enter Canada over 12 months at a tariff rate of about 6%.
Anything above that is subject to an additional 100% surtax.
The agreement also set out a goal to "drive considerable new Chinese joint-venture investment" in automotive manufacturing in Canada within three years.
It drew criticism from officials in the Trump administration, including the president himself.
But while Industry Minister Mélanie Joly has said she wants to see such joint ventures to boost Canadian parts manufacturing, labor and technology, so far none have been announced.
Stellantis NV held discussions with Joly's office about potentially building electric vehicles using Chinese technology at an idled car plant near Toronto.
But the Canadian government ruled out any scenario where the parts are largely built in China and only assembled in Canada, and the talks stalled.
Instead, Stellantis announced plans to sell the plant to Roshel Inc, a Canadian armoured vehicle manufacturer.
Carney reiterated his stance that the Roshel sale would be only a "partial" solution for the plant, and that he wants the carmaker to address its contractual obligations to the unionised workers attached to the facility.
It hasn't produced vehicles in about three years.
