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Articles by Addisu Lashitew
The innovative model changing how disadvantaged communities access healthcare
Developing countries globally face systematically worse health outcomes. In times of crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, these differences have catastrophic consequences. But in places like South Africa, the social franchise model is helping vulnerable communities expand their own access to healthcare. The global devastation of COVID-19 revealed the urgent need to extend primary healthcare to billions of people who still lack access to essential services.
Canada’s Chinese EV tariff cut is a game changer
Canada has announced an agreement to reduce its 100 per cent tariff on electric vehicle (EV) imports from China to 6.1 per cent. The tariffs will be replaced by an annual import quota of 49,000 EVs in 2026, rising gradually to 70,000 by 2030. This phased opening is designed to help Canada diversify its supply chain and accelerate EV adoption without relying on subsidies. In return, China will lower tariffs on Canadian canola to 15 per cent by March and remove tariffs on a few other Canadian goods.
Lower tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles could boost adoption and diversify Canada’s trade
This article was originally published on The Conversation, an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts. Disclosure information is available on the original site. ___ Author: Addisu Lashitew, Associate professor, Business, McMaster University Canada has announced an agreement to reduce its 100 per cent tariff on electric vehicle (EV) imports from China to 6.1 per cent.
Lower tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles could boost adoption and diversify Canada’s trade
© 2026 Tolerance.ca ® Inc. All reproduction rights reserved. All information reproduced on the Web pages of www.tolerance.ca (including articles, images, photographs, and logos) is protected by intellectual property rights owned by Tolerance.ca ® Inc. or, in certain cases, by its author. Any reproduction of the information for use other than personal use is prohibited.
Lower tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles could boost adoption and diversify Canada’s trade
Canada has announced an agreement to reduce its 100 per cent tariff on electric vehicle (EV) imports from China to 6.1 per cent. The tariffs will be replaced by an annual import quota of 49,000 EVs in 2026, rising gradually to 70,000 by 2030. This phased opening is designed to help Canada diversify its supply chain and accelerate EV adoption without relying on subsidies. In return, China will lower tariffs on Canadian canola to 15 per cent by March and remove tariffs on a few other Canadian goods.
Canada’s tariff wall on Chinese electric vehicles is deepening dependence on the U.S.
By Addisu Lashitew, McMaster University; The Conversation In October 2024, Canada imposed a 100 per cent tariff on all electric vehicle (EV) imports from China, effectively barring consumers from accessing some of the world’s most innovative, affordable models. These tariffs are deepening the country’s dependence on the United States and undermining its climate goals.
Canada’s tariff wall on Chinese electric vehicles is deepening dependence on the U.S. Original
In October 2024, Canada imposed a 100 per cent tariff on all electric vehicle (EV) imports from China, effectively barring consumers from accessing some of the world’s most innovative, affordable models. These tariffs are deepening the country’s dependence on the United States and undermining its climate goals. Canada’s unusually prohibitive tariff mirrored the strategy of the U.S., which imposed a 100 per cent duty on Chinese EVs in September 2024.
Canada’s tariff wall on Chinese electric vehicles is deepening dependence on the U.S.
In October 2024, Canada imposed a 100 per cent tariff on all electric vehicle (EV) imports from China, effectively barring consumers from accessing some of the world’s most innovative, affordable models. These tariffs are deepening the country’s dependence on the United States and undermining its climate goals. Canada’s unusually prohibitive tariff mirrored the strategy of the U.S., which imposed a 100 per cent duty on Chinese EVs in September 2024.
Canada’s tariff wall on Chinese electric vehicles is deepening dependence on the U.S.
Addisu Lashitew, McMaster University Tue, September 16, 2025 at 4:45 p.m. UTC 4 min read In October 2024, Canada imposed a 100 per cent tariff on all electric vehicle (EV) imports from China, effectively barring consumers from accessing some of the world’s most innovative, affordable models. These tariffs are deepening the country’s dependence on the United States and undermining its climate goals.
Canada’s tariff wall on Chinese electric vehicles is deepening dependence on the U.S.
© 2025 Tolerance.ca ® Inc. All reproduction rights reserved. All information reproduced on the Web pages of www.tolerance.ca (including articles, images, photographs, and logos) is protected by intellectual property rights owned by Tolerance.ca ® Inc. or, in certain cases, by its author. Any reproduction of the information for use other than personal use is prohibited.
Ottawa’s tariffs on Chinese EVs are propping up American automakers
In July, Tesla sales in the European Union fell by 40 per cent even as overall electric vehicle (EV) sales rose by 39 per cent. BYD, Tesla’s Chinese arch-rival, trebled its sales and moved ahead of Tesla in market share. In Canada too, Tesla’s once-brilliant star is fading. Its market share is now a fraction of what it used to be, and GM has recently clinched first place in this growing segment.
Ottawa’s tariffs on Chinese EVs are propping up American automakers
In July, Tesla sales in the European Union fell by 40 per cent even as overall electric vehicle (EV) sales rose by 39 per cent. BYD, Tesla’s Chinese arch-rival, trebled its sales and moved ahead of Tesla in market share. In Canada too, Tesla’s once-brilliant star is fading. Its market share is now a fraction of what it used to be, and GM has recently clinched first place in this growing segment.
Which companies are opposed to the SEC’s new climate change disclosure law?
The United States ranks second after China in global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, accounting for 13.5% of the worldwide total, according to the . During his first term, President Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Agreement, a decision that President Biden reversed upon taking office.
How companies integrate smallholder farmers in their value chains in Africa
More than half of Africa’s 1.3 billion people make a living from agriculture, of whom 80% are low-income smallholder farmers working on farms smaller than two hectares.1 Significantly reducing poverty requires substantial improvements in the productive capacity and market access of millions of smallholder farmers in Africa. In recent years, large food and beverage companies have introduced initiatives that integrate smallholder farmers into their value chains.
Community Inclusion under Systemic Inequality: How For‐Profit Businesses Pursue Social Purpose
INTRODUCTION For-profit businesses are increasingly espousing an organizational purpose that assumes an explicit ethical position on important societal issues (Shin et al., 2022), thus linking their core value creation processes with wider societal responsibilities (George et al., 2021; Jasinenko and Steuber, 2022).
Will the Ethiopia-TPLF Peace Deal Last?
On Nov. 2, Ethiopia’s government and Tigrayan rebels signed an unexpected peace deal aimed at ending two years of brutal war that drew in Ethiopia’s erstwhile enemy-turned-ally—Eritrea—while ravaging the Tigray region and surrounding areas, exacerbating ethnic tensions, and damaging Addis Ababa’s regional and global standing. Now that a deal has been signed, many questions remain: Will Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s ambitious reform agenda get back on track? Will there be economic stability?
TechTank Podcast Episode 59: Technology adoption in Africa: current and future use cases for development
Conversations around the tech industry typically focus on the United States, largely ignoring Africa despite its status as the world’s second largest continent. Over decades, Africa has increased the number of residents that are connected to the internet. Researchers have estimated that at least a quarter of the population of Africa has internet access, with some perspective that three quarters of residents will be connected by 2030.
Digital technologies open vast business opportunities in Africa
The share of Africa’s population connected to digital technologies is growing rapidly. In 2020, almost half a billion Africans—76 percent of the continent’s adult population—had access to mobile phones. A growing share of the continent is also connected to the internet, although often through mobile data networks that have limited bandwidth.
Is the Risk of Crime Against Businesses Greater in More Unequal Countries?
Rising inequality is one of the most pressing societal challenges of our time. According to data from the World Inequality Database, the past two decades saw an increase in the overall income share of the richest 10% of the population in all but two of the world’s 10 largest economies (the exceptions are France and the United Kingdom). In the world’s largest economies, the average income share of the richest 10% of the population increased from 37.5% in 2001 to 41.3% in 2021.
Is the risk of crime against businesses greater in more unequal countries?
Rising inequality is one of the most pressing societal challenges of our time. According to data from the World Inequality Database, the past two decades saw an increase in the overall income share of the richest 10 percent of the population in all but two of the world’s 10 largest economies (the exceptions are France and the United Kingdom).
The coming of age of sustainability disclosure: How do rules differ between the US and the EU? Original
Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investments—financial assets that fulfill certain minimum social and environmental criteria—are expected to reach $50 trillion in assets by 2025. While this implies a significant reallocation of capital toward sustainable activities, the extent to which ESG investments advance climate transition is unclear because of lack of standardization in their classification.
How public health policies protected women-owned businesses during the pandemic
Unprecedented as the COVID-19 crisis has been, it is not so unusual in two important ways. First, the pandemic disproportionately affected minorities and small businesses and exacerbated existing income and wealth inequalities. Second, the scope and quality of public policy responses exhibited large differences across countries.
How the USA’s activist foreign policy is failing Ethiopia Original
Since the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) took arms to challenge central rule more than a year ago, this large country of more than 110 million people has been teetering on the brink. The US has tried to broker peace, but its efforts have achieved little success. Part of the problem appears to be a very poor relationship and lack of trust between the Biden administration and the Ethiopian government.
How to Avert Catastrophe in Ethiopia
The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) ruled Ethiopia for nearly three decades before anti-government protests dislodged it from power in 2018. Now, three years later, the renegade rebels are on the verge of storming back into Addis Ababa. The United States—the superpower that can bring the most political and economic clout to bear on the situation—must do all that it can to prevent that.
How have lockdown policies affected international trade? Evidence from Kenya
In 2020, the global economy is estimated to have shrunk by 3.5 percent while international trade declined by 9.2 percent, in large part due to the COVID-19 crisis. One of the major drags on international trade was the introduction of lockdown policies to contain the spread of the virus. Governments around the world imposed several measures that restricted the mobility of people and goods, which impeded trade flows at local, regional, and international levels.
How to Stop Ethnic Nationalism From Tearing Ethiopia Apart
How to Stop Ethnic Nationalism From Tearing Ethiopia Apart
How to Stop Ethnic Nationalism From Tearing Ethiopia Apart
On Nov. 28, 2020, Ethiopia’s military took control of Mekele, the capital of Tigray region, after a monthlong fight with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). Before the conflict, the Tigray region under TPLF rule was edging toward de facto independence. After the TPLF lost its hegemonic position in Addis Ababa in 2018—where it had dominated Ethiopia’s ruling coalition for decades—it relocated political and bureaucratic personnel to Mekele.
Creating Social Value in the Context of Institutional Failure
(Image: Image by Junah Rosales/Pixabay) This post by Addisu Lashitew, Rob van Tulder and Lukas Muche is based on their article, “Social Value Creation in Institutional Voids: A Business Model Perspective,” in the journal Business & Society. This study was part of a larger project at Rotterdam School of Management that sought to understand how businesses create social value – i.e. advance social and economic development through their commercial operations.
Social Value Creation in Institutional Voids: A Business Model Perspective
There is rising academic and practitioner interest on the role of market forces such as business strategy, entrepreneurship, and innovation for addressing society’s grand challenges such as poverty, inequality, and environmental sustainability (George et al., 2012; Porter & Kramer, 2011).
Around the halls: What should the Biden administration prioritize in its climate policy?
The 2020 presidential election is finally behind us and my thoughts are turning to what the result means for climate action. The incoming Biden administration certainly favors action on climate. The administration’s transition team has already announced that former Secretary of State John Kerry will serve as a Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, and in that position, will sit on the National Security Council.
Building a stakeholder economy
Norms and expectations of what corporations should do are changing rapidly.
What Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia must overcome to all benefit from the Grand Renaissance Dam Original
On July 21, a virtual meeting summoned by president Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, the current chair of the African Union (AU), deliberated the fate of the negotiations between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). The meeting, which was attended by the leaders of the three countries, produced “a major common understanding” among the negotiating parties, and concluded by extending the AU-led technical negotiations.
Are natural resources a curse, a blessing, or a double-edged sword?
The question of how natural resources affect economic development is an important and intriguing field of economic research. Although the early resource curse literature documented a strong negative relationship between natural resources and GDP growth, a growing body of contradicting evidence has emerged. With many countries still highly dependent on volatile resource rents, how natural resources affect development remains a high-stakes policy question.
Figures of the week: The effect of COVID-19 on food and income security in Africa
Even before the onset of the coronavirus, about 670 million people in Africa, or half the continent’s population, were facing food insecurity, out of which 250 million people were severely food insecure. This problem has been exacerbated by the spread of COVID-19 and subsequent lockdown measures that introduced serious economic and food price shocks.
Could the Nile dispute be an opportunity to boost freshwater technology?
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Blue Nile river has become a major point of contention between Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan. Ethiopia, which hopes to double its electricity generation capacity through the project, is intent on starting the filling of the dam’s reservoir as early as July 2020. Egypt, on the other hand, insists that the dam should not go operational before a binding and comprehensive agreement on its filling and long-term operation is reached.
Could services drive globalization in the post-COVID-19 world?
A growing chorus of expert opinion predicts that COVID-19 will slow down the forces of globalization, with obituaries being written for its impending death. The pandemic, many say, will be the final straw in a long chain of events that have dented the momentum of global integration, including the China-U.S. trade war, Brexit, and economic nationalism in many parts of the world.
Could Nile dispute be opportunity to boost freshwater technology?
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Blue Nile river has become a major point of contention between Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan. Ethiopia, which hopes to double its electricity generation capacity through the project, is intent to start filling of the dam’s reservoir as early as July 2020. Updated 13:24 Paris Egypt, on the other hand, insists that the dam should not go operational before a binding and comprehensive agreement on its filling and long-term operation is reached.
Social distancing unlikely to hold up in Africa without a safety net for microentrepreneurs
African countries have joined the rest of the world in imposing severe restrictions on human mobility in a bid to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. With the rapid rise of infection rates—which as of this writing—social distancing and other public health measures are crucial for reducing further contagion. The immediate focus of policymakers on improving the capacity of health care systems to test, isolate, and treat patients has been appropriate considering the millions of lives at risk.
As oil prices plummet, how can resource-rich countries diversify their economies?
After reaching $70 a barrel in early 2020, oil prices have plummeted to their lowest levels in 20 years at less than $20 a barrel due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Saudi-Russian oil price war. This price crash once again demonstrates the perils of excessive economic dependence on natural resource revenues. Oil-dependent countries are bracing for a period of fiscal crisis on top of an ongoing economic shock caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
A social distancing reading list from Brookings Global Economy and Development
During this unusual time of flexible schedules and more time at home, many of us may have increased opportunities for long-form reading. Below, the scholars and staff from the Global Economy and Development program at Brookings offer their recommendations for books to read during this time.
Ethiopia and Egypt Are Fighting Over the Nile River. The United States Should Not Take Sides.
Egypt and Ethiopia have once again locked horns over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Blue Nile. On Feb. 26, Ethiopia temporarily suspended its participation in the U.S.-mediated negotiations over the filling and operation of the GERD, requesting more time to deliberate on the draft agreement. With the dam 70 percent complete and its reservoir expected to start being filled in July, the time for reaching an agreement is ticking away.
Why Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan should ditch a rushed, Washington-brokered Nile Treaty
Source: Brookings Institute Addisu Lashitew The ambitious Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) has been a point of contention among Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan in recent years. The GERD is now 70 percent complete, and its reservoir expected to start being filled in the rainy season of 2020. The three countries, however, have not yet reached an agreement on the process of filling and operating it in spite of years of negotiations.
Why Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan should ditch a rushed, Washington-brokered Nile Treaty
The ambitious Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) has been a point of contention among Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan in recent years. The GERD is now 70 percent complete, and its reservoir expected to start being filled in the rainy season of 2020. The three countries, however, have not yet reached an agreement on the process of filling and operating it in spite of years of negotiations. These tensions are not new: The Nile has been a cause of antagonism between Ethiopia and Egypt for centuries.
A conversation on Secretary Pompeo’s February 2020 trip to Africa
Ahead of Secretary Pompeo’s visit to Africa—specifically Angola, Ethiopia, and Senegal—Brookings experts Addisu Lashitew, Ahmadou Aly Mbaye, Mike O’Hanlon, and Witney Schneidman discuss the Trump administration’s current Africa policy, the evolution of U.S.-Africa relations, and Pompeo’s agenda items, including trade and security.
Stakeholder capitalism arrives at Davos
The 2020 annual meeting of the World Economic Forum opens this week with the theme of “Stakeholders for a Cohesive and Sustainable World.” More than 3,000 global leaders, including 53 heads of state, will convene in the resort town of Davos on the Swiss Alpine to deliberate on pathways to “stakeholder capitalism.” The Forum’s theme beacons an emerging shift away from the paradigm of “shareholder capitalism” that has guided the world economy since the 1970s.
Ethiopia’s newly unified ruling party pivots to a liberal political economy
Earlier this month, Ethiopia’s ruling coalition party formally unified and was rebaptized the “Prosperity Party.” Formerly known as the “Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Front” (EPRDF), the coalition used to consist of four parties representing the country’s major ethnic groups.
Ethiopia Will Explode if It Doesn’t Move Beyond Ethnic-Based Politics
On Oct. 11, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed received the Nobel Peace Prize for ending the long stalemate with neighboring Eritrea. Paradoxically, Abiy enjoys only fragmented and diminishing popular support in his own country. Even in his home region of Oromia, his leadership is seriously contested by the ethnonationalist forces represented by the social media activist Jawar Mohammed. This became painfully evident on Oct.
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