Global Affairs Canada says it is consulting on remaining Chinese EV import quota

Global Affairs Canada has responded to questions surrounding Tesla’s exhausted Model 3 import allocation, but stopped short of explaining why the automaker has paused orders in Canada despite more than 33,000 Chinese EV import spots remaining available.

What Global Affairs said

In an exclusive statement, the department confirmed with Drive Tesla it is consulting with automakers on how to distribute the remaining quota, but would not say whether Tesla is subject to a company-specific limit.

Spokesperson Rachael Dolan confirmed the department is reviewing how the remaining quota is distributed.

Global Affairs Canada is consulting with interested companies to optimize remaining quota availability and evaluate the quota’s implementation to inform a longer-term policy designed to catalyze new joint-venture investment on Canadian soil, with Canadian supply chains, and Canadian workers.

However, Dolan did not confirm or deny whether Tesla is subject to a company-specific limit.

More than 33,000 import spots remain

Tesla’s decision to stop accepting orders comes despite Canada’s October 9 Export and Import Controls System report showing 33,069 of 33,397 quota spots remain available. During the first six-month window, from March to August 2026, just 15,603 of the 24,500 available spots were claimed.

Under Notice to Importers 1168, import permits are issued on a first-come, first-served basis, with no publicly announced per-automaker cap. Section 3.4.6 allows Global Affairs Canada to reserve portions of the quota to ensure equitable access, including for original equipment manufacturers.

When will orders resume

According to the message on Tesla’s website, orders may not resume until March 2027, when the first year of Canada’s Chinese EV import quota program ends and the government could make additional allocations available.

The Model 3 Premium RWD is priced at $39,490 in Canada. The Performance variant remains available as it is sourced from Tesla’s Fremont factory in the U.S., and not China.

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