Skip to Content Subscribe Our Offers My Account Manage My Subscriptions FAQ Newsletters Canada Canadian True Crime Canadian Politics Health World Israel & Middle East Financial Post NP Comment Longreads Puzzmo Diversions Comics NP News Quiz New York Times Crossword Horoscopes Life Eating & Drinking Style Sponsored Play for Ontario Travel Travel Canada Travel USA Travel International Cruises Travel Essentials Culture Books Celebrity Movies Music Theatre Television Business Essentials Advice Lives Told Tails Told Shopping Buy Canadian Home Living Outdoor Living Kitchen & Dining Tech Style & Beauty Personal Care Entertainment & Hobbies Gift Guide Travel Guide Amazon Prime Day Deals Savings National Post Store More Sports Hockey Baseball Basketball Football Soccer Golf Tennis Driving Vehicle Research Reviews News Gear Guide Obituaries Place an Obituary Place an In Memoriam Classifieds Place an Ad Celebrations Working Business Ads Archives Healthing Epaper Manage Print Subscription Profile Settings My Subscriptions Saved Articles My Offers Newsletters Customer Service FAQ Newsletters Canada World Financial Post NP Comment Longreads Puzzmo Diversions Life Shopping Epaper Manage Print Subscription HomeNewsCanadaCanadian PoliticsHot mic at G7 summit catches Carney defending Chinese EV deal to Trump'...it's a cap... I thought you'd actually like that,' said CarneyLast updated 32 minutes ago You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.US President Donald Trump (L) and Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney (R) attend a work lunch as part of the G7 summit, in Evian, eastern France, on June 16, 2026. Photo by EVELYN HOCKSTEIN /POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesEVIANS-LES-BAINS, FRANCE — Prime Minister Mark Carney defended Canada’s Chinese electric vehicle deal with China to U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday, an agreement that has been criticized by the U.S. administration and the auto sector.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an Accountor“Less than three per cent of our market, 49,000 cars…” the prime minister was heard saying to Trump, over the summit’s host feed, ahead of a working luncheon between the G7 leaders.“…it’s a cap… I thought you’d actually like that,” added Carney.The president replied, “that’s good, I like it.”The exchange began with a joke between the two leaders about French President Emmanuel Macron leaving his watch behind on the table.Carney arrived at the summit in France with no confirmed bilateral meeting with Trump. The G7 meeting marks the first time the prime minister and the president have been in the same room together this year.In January, Carney signed a deal with Beijing that would allow 49,000 Chinese-made EVs access to the Canadian market at a tariff rate of 6.1 per cent. Since 2024, Chinese-made EVs have been subject to a 100-per-cent tariff, in line with U.S. trade policy.The tariff quota agreement was made in exchange for lowered Chinese tariffs on Canadian canola and seafood exports and promises to provide affordable EV options for Canadian consumers.The government has said in five years that more than 50 per cent of the vehicles will have an import price of less than $35,000.The deal has been criticized for potentially undermining the Canadian auto industry and issues surrounding forced labour and national security have also been flagged by experts critical of the deal.The Canada-United-States-Trade-Agreement (CUSMA) is up for renewal, and the auto sector is likely to be central in some of those trade talks.Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Chief Trade Negotiator Janice Charette are expected to meet with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on the sidelines of the summit to discuss trade.Last week, LeBlanc said he expects there will be bilateral deals between the U.S. and Canada and the U.S. and Mexico, adjacent to the trilateral CUSMA framework. Bilateral deals between Canada and Mexico are also expected.Once those bilateral concerns are addressed, LeBlanc added that he was “hopeful” the trilateral deal would be extended.Ahead of the summit, Carney downplayed bringing up any potential issues of trade with the U.S. president, adding that the leaders’ focus would be primarily on geopolitical events.More to come.National PostOur website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our newsletters here. Join the Conversation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.