Chinese consumers were given generous subsidies and inducements to replace gas cars with EVs, sparking huge domestic demand. There are plenty of complaints that Chinese EVs have an unfair advantage when they hit the sales floor in other countries. In some export markets, Chinese EVs have achieved price parity or better compared with gas cars, such as in Thailand. Even before U.S. President Donald Trump’s bullish embrace of tariffs, many Western countries have been wary of allowing a glut of Chinese EVs hit their markets. Europe’s 38 per cent tariff was imposed when Chinese EVs went from being about one per cent of EVs sold in 2019 to more than 50 per cent by 2023.

Source: National Post January 17, 2026 12:30 UTC