24-hour hotline : 23 922 922
e-mail address : enquiry@tid.gov.hk
Ref. : EIC 191/3
27 February 2026
(Updated on 12 March 2026)
Dear Sirs,
Further to Commercial Information Circular No. 797/2024 dated 2 October 2024 regarding Canada’s surtax on Chinese-made electric vehicles (EVs) from Chinese Mainland, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced on 26 February 2026 that a shipment-specific import permit issued by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) shall be required to import EVs that originate from Chinese Mainland into Canada effective from 1 March 2026.
2.On 1 October 2024, the Government of Canada confirmed the 100% surtax on all Chinese-made EVs from Chinese Mainland imported into Canada shall apply to EVs and certain hybrid passenger automobiles, trucks, buses, and delivery vans, effective from 1 October 2024.
3.On 26 February 2026, CBSA issued a customs notice to announce that a shipment-specific import permit issued by GAC shall be required to import EVs classified under the specified tariff items that originate from Chinese Mainland into Canada. Importers can apply to GAC for a shipment-specific import permit until the quota limit established by GAC is reached. Once quota is reached, permits shall no longer be issued. These permits shall be valid for 60 days from the date they were issued. The quota year runs from 1 March to 28 or 29 February, each year. A shipment-specific import permit issued by GAC is required for all imports of EVs identified in this notice. Imports of EVs identified in this notice that are not accompanied by a permit are prohibited. Eligible EVs imported under this quota are assessed at a most-favoured-nation tariff rate of 6.1%. With the implementation of this quota the 100% surtax on imports of EVs originating from Chinese Mainland (China Surtax Order (2024)) has been repealed. The quota is administered on a first-come, first-served basis. The available quantity for the first 6 months of the initial quota year (i.e. 1 March 2026 to 31 August 2026) is 24,500 vehicles. The total available quantity for the second half of the initial quota year (i.e. 1 September 2026 to 28 February 2027) shall be 24,500 vehicles plus any unused volumes from the initial 6-month period.
4.For details, please refer to CBSA’s customs notice at https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/cn-ad/cn26-05-eng.html and the associated links at https://www.international.gc.ca/trade-commerce/controls-controles/notices-avis/1162.aspx?lang=eng and https://gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p2/2026/2026-03-11/html/sor-dors33-eng.html.
5.For enquiries concerning the content of this circular, please contact us at telephone number 2398 5405.
Yours faithfully,
(Miss Kwany KOU)
for Director-General of Trade and Industry
Note: While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the above information, the Department cannot guarantee this to be so and will not be held liable for any reliance placed on the same.