Hot mic catches Mark Carney, Donald Trump discussing Chinese EVs

Meeting of G7 leaders in France represented first time that Carney, Trump had been in same room this year

Published Jun 16, 2026  •  2 minute read

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at a working lunch with leaders of G7 and the Middle East, on June 16, 2026 in Evian-les-Bains, France. Leaders from the Group of 7 (G7) countries convened in Evian, France, near the Swiss border, for their annual summit to discuss challenges to peace and security for Ukraine and Europe, the situation in the Middle East, and other geopolitical issues. Photo by (Photo by Evelyn Hockstein - Pool/Getty Images)

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Prime Minister Mark Carney uttered electric comments that sounded like music to the ears of U.S. President Donald Trump. 

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Carney is in France for a G7 summit and Tuesday represented the first time that he and Trump had been in the same room this year. It was their comments on a hot mic about Chinese electric vehicles, though, that captured people’s attention.

“Less than 3% of our market, 49,000 cars,” the prime minister was overheard saying to Trump in Evian-Les-Bains ahead of a working lunch between the leaders on Tuesday. 

The quote apparently referenced how many Chinese EVs are allowed to enter the Canadian market at a lower tariff rate with Carney adding that “it’s a cap … I thought you’d actually like that.” 

“That’s good, I like that,” Trump said. 

A ChargePoint electric vehicle charger is displayed during the Drive The Dream event at the Exploratorium on September 16, 2013 in San Francisco, California. Photo by Justin Sullivan /Getty Images

Deal with China reached in January

In January, Canada and China struck a deal on EVs that would see 49,000 enter the Canadian market at a tariff rate of 6.1%. Since 2024, Chinese-made EVs were subject to a 100% tariff in lockstep with America’s trade policy on Chinese EVs.  

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In response to the deal, the Chinese government dropped some tariffs on Canadian canola and seafood, while the Beijing government promised to provide affordable electric options for consumers in Canada. Canola is an important cash crop for Canadian farmers. It is used to make cooking oils, animal feed, biofuels, lubricants, detergents and cosmetics. 

On previous occasions, the Carney government predicted that in five years more than 50% of electric vehicles will have an import price of less than $35,000.  

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Move criticized by Trump administration

The EV agreement has been criticized by the Trump administration and the domestic auto sector. 

“I think they’ll look back at this decision and surely regret it to bring Chinese cars into their market,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said at an event at a Ford factory in Ohio in January. 

The heavyweights in the domestic auto sector — Ford, General Motors and Stellantis — said the entry of electric vehicles subverts the auto industry and exposes Canadians to “cyber risks.” 

The Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) on free trade is up for renewal on July 1 and the auto sector is likely to be central in some of those trade talks. The Canada Day deadline to renew the pact for another 16 years is likely to pass without the three countries reaching an agreement.   

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