This photo taken on March 25, 2024 shows assembly lines at a plant of Xiaomi in Beijing, capital of China. [Photo/Xinhua]

China's commerce ministry on Tuesday expressed strong dissatisfaction with and firm opposition against the Canadian government's announcement of imposing additional import tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs).

The remarks came after the Canadian government said Monday that it will take restrictive measures including new tariffs on EVs as well as steel and aluminum products imported from China.

Commenting on this move, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce said that the Canadian government disregarded the facts and World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, ignored China's repeated solemn representations and acted unilaterally.

The development of China's EV and other industries is based on their own comparative advantages and a result of open competition, the spokesperson said.

"Chinese EVs are welcomed by users around the world, including Canadian consumers. They have also made great contributions to the global response to climate change and green transition efforts," the spokesperson added.

The Canadian government claims to support free trade and the multilateral trading system based on the WTO rules but has blatantly violated WTO rules, blindly followed certain countries and taken unilateral tariff measures against Chinese products, the spokesperson said, describing such practices as "typical trade protectionism."

The spokesperson warned that the move will destabilize global industrial and supply chains, seriously undermine the global economic system and economic and trade rules, and severely impact China-Canada economic and trade relations.

It will also harm the interests of enterprises in both countries, affect Canadian consumers, and risk undercutting Canada's green transition efforts and the global response to climate change, the spokesperson noted.

The Canadian side should correct its wrong practices immediately, the spokesperson said, adding that China will take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of its enterprises.