We're doing this in line with other countries in the world that see we're all being challenged. We must take action, says Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Currently, the only electric cars imported to Canada from China are Tesla models manufactured there. Models made in, for example, Germany are not affected.
The USA, which introduced similar tariffs in May, has encouraged Canada's decision.
President Joe Biden has motivated the tariffs by stating that subsidies from the Chinese state to the country's electric car manufacturers distort competition.
Canada is also introducing 25-percent tariffs on steel and aluminum from China. According to Vice Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, the government will also consider new tariffs on Chinese batteries, battery parts, solar panels, metals used in the green transition, and semiconductors.
China has a state-controlled policy aimed at overcapacity and large overproduction to harm our industries. We're not going to let that happen, said Freeland.
China's embassy in Canada strongly criticizes the tariff decision.
"They will harm trade relations and economic cooperation between China and Canada," it said in a statement.
