Tesla has used about 12% of Canada’s first-window quota for Chinese-built EVs, the only automaker yet to move volume under the new system announced last January.

Global Affairs Canada data show 2,910 vehicles imported under the quota as of May 29, against a cap of 24,500 for the window that opened March 1 and runs to August 31.

The figures leave 21,590 permits available.

...

Car shipments from Shanghai adds roughly four to six weeks, so even permits filed on day one would not have landed cars much before mid-spring.

The 2,910 figure equals 11.9% of the window’s allocation, and competitors have yet to register a single unit.

At this pace, Tesla could claim a large share of the 24,500 ceiling before the window closes at the end of August.

...

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] Scotty@scribe.disroot.org 11 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

These cars come from Tesla's plant in Shanghai, China.

[–] panda_abyss@lemmy.ca 14 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

This is the worst of both worlds.

Tesla should be excluded.

[–] villasv@lemmy.ca 3 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

On the other hand, having Tesla mixed in the bunch does poison the straw man argument that Chinese EVs come from slave labour... the slave labour allegation instantly becomes a self own if the company responsible is from the USA.

[–] Scotty@scribe.disroot.org 3 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

the straw man argument that Chinese EVs come from slave labour

There is ample evidence for forced labour in China, and this includes not just BYD and other Chinese automakers but foreign brands, too.

[–] villasv@lemmy.ca 2 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Yes, and there is ample evidence for forced labour in Canada too. I didn't imply that there isn't, but I am saying that China is held to a different standard in that regard

[–] Scotty@scribe.disroot.org 2 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

China isn't held to a different standard. Labour rights are much weaker in China than in Western democracies (Xi Jinping has been rejected social welfare frequently as, according to him, it makes people 'lazy), coercive practices are more widespread (the 996 working culture in China is well-known), and particularly supply chain transparency in China is non-existent.

Just look what Chinese carmaker BYD has done in its factories in Brazil and in Hungary.

Forced labour is bad everywhere if it happens, but your argument amounts to whataboutism.

[–] villasv@lemmy.ca 1 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

China isn’t held to a different standard.

It is, and nothing you said is evidence of the contrary. Labour rights in the US are much weaker than western democracies (Republicans have rejected social welfare frequently as, according to them, it's socialism). And?

Just look what Chinese carmaker BYD has done in its factories in Brazil and in Hungary.

These reflect the labour relations in Brazil and in Hungary, and the fact that they are in these countries will mean that the labour relationship they build there will reflect what the local laws will dictate.

Forced labour is bad everywhere if it happens, but your argument amounts to whataboutism.

It would be if I were saying that slave labour in China isn't a bad thing because Canada also does it. It's not what I'm saying. China has a forced labour problem, but using it to control car imports is to hold China to different standards unless you support that Canada should also be subject to international sanctions on our agricultural exports.

[–] Scotty@scribe.disroot.org 2 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (2 children)

These reflect the labour relations in Brazil and in Hungary, and the fact that they are in these countries will mean that the labour relationship they build there will reflect what the local laws will dictate.

Brazil and Hungary (after Orban lost the election) closed down the factories. China uses integrated supply chains across all industries (meaning they bring their own Chinese migrant workers), not just in the EV sector, and the Chinese Communist Party has been heavily lobbying against supply chain transparency. Why?

Forced labour must be eliminated everywhere. It doesn't make sense to justify EV imports from China with alleged forced labour in Canada. It must be eliminated. Blocking imports of goods made by slavery is, of course, absolutely necessary.

Republicans have rejected social welfare frequently as, according to them, it’s socialism.

Xi Jinping rejects social welfare as, according to him, China could “fall into the trap of supporting lazy people."

Edit: Seems the Republicans and the Chinese Communist Party are much closer than they admit.

[–] vinceman@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

To your edit, they all walked across the stage together.

[–] villasv@lemmy.ca 1 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

Brazil and Hungary (after Orban lost the election) closed down the factories.

Brazil did not close that factory, which hadn't even opened yet. The factory is being built, and the developer who was building it (contracted by BYD) was indeed fined for the irregularities. But the factory is still going to be built and opened.

It doesn’t make sense to justify EV imports from China with alleged forced labour in Canada.

Not what I'm doing, and I agree. I'm not justifying anything, I'm saying that China is held to a different standard.

Xi Jinping rejects social welfare as, according to him, China could “fall into the trap of supporting lazy people."

Yes, indeed. Republicans and Canadian Conservatives also reject social welfare based on the same logic. Both are ruling powers who see cheap labour as economic might and look the other way. But only one of them is given trade sanctions.

[–] Scotty@scribe.disroot.org 1 points 3 weeks ago

@Vctor Villas

Xi Jinping rejects social welfare as, according to him, China could “fall into the trap of supporting lazy people."

Seems the Republicans and the Chinese Communist Party are much closer than they admit.