The Canadian federal government recently blocked the entry into the national market of the world’s cheapest electric vehicles (EVs), manufactured in China, by imposing 100% customs duties. In response, electric mobility advocates are calling on Canada to make it easier to import affordable models from Europe, which are currently held back by technical standards.
Why it’s difficult today
European vehicles are not easily imported into Canada, as they do not meet certain Canadian certification requirements. Foreign certification rules are not automatically sufficient to meet the safety needs of Canadian road users, due to a distinct road environment, generally larger vehicles, and specific conditions.
Modifications may include bumpers, headlights or other technical features. This process can be long and costly, which discourages importers.
Press to open
Daniel Breton, President of Electric Mobility Canada, is calling for vehicles approved in Europe to be able to enter Canada without having to be recertified or modified. He believes that the Canadian requirements are unjustified, since « if these cars are safe enough for European roads, they are safe enough for ours « .
A survey of 2,585 Canadians conducted by Clean Energy Canada in June 2025 shows that 70% of them are in favour of opening up the market to approved European vehicles.
A tense business environment
This desire for openness comes against a backdrop of growing commercial pressure. The North American market is unstable: the withdrawal of subsidies in Canada, 100% tariffs on Chinese EVs, and the Trump administration’s decisions in the United States are complicating access to affordable vehicles.
The Canadian government is considering this option to diversify its sources of supply and meet growing demand for compact models that are currently unavailable, such as the Volkswagen ID.3, or brands that are absent from the Canadian market (Citroën, Opel, Peugeot, etc.).
