Canada relies on foreign auto executives for its auto industry. It already provides huge taxpayer subsidies per job. There is certainly a possible future where all of those foreign loyal companies side with US to destroy Canadian auto production/investment.

  1. China could help save Canadian auto industry by providing motors and batteries for Canadian made EVs. Chinese investment to make goods from Canadian resources in Canada is a path for scale that includes global export potential of autos and other industrial goods to whole globe including China.

  2. If it doesn’t make economic sense to make our own tube socks, it doesn’t make sense to make overly expensive cars, either. There is a stronger national security argument for apparel, that needs yearly replacements, than solar, batteries, and autos that last 20+ years. More so, when they are not dependent on continuous international fuel supply chains/geopolitics.

Pressure on foreign executives to support Canadian production includes access to Canadian market. The stability of status quo will appeal to most people. But the threat/plan B of cooperation with China is both a path to manufacturing and resource FDI paid by China instead of taxpayers, and better quality of life through better value goods.

  • humanspiral@lemmy.caOP
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    23 hours ago

    Their labour standards are way too low which means countries with good standards cannot compete (tariffs can balance this out though)

    This is politicized, but is more credibly claimed in construction and lower value manufacturing. Their EV advantage is based on robotics and battery tech.

    They’re a foreign adversary so we should minimize our tech reliance on them as much as possible

    This is just something we copy from US. There’s a need to befriend lesser enemies, though China has never threatened us.

    • tleb@lemmy.ca
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      20 hours ago

      This is just something we copy from US. There’s a need to befriend lesser enemies, though China has never threatened us.

      Nonsense. They’re an existential threat to good allies like Taiwan and Hong Kong, and support other threats including Russia and North Korea.

      Edit: And if you need specific risks to Canada, don’t forget the Chinese police stations, the 2 Michaels being detained, and interfering with our elections.