When Prime Minister Mark Carney met with automotive sector CEOs Wednesday about U.S. trade negotiations, one of the key issues the industry said they wished to discuss was the government's zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate.

The mandate requires a certain percentage of light duty vehicles — passenger cars, SUVs and trucks — that are sold to be either fully-electric vehicles or plug-in hybrids, starting with 20 per cent in 2026 and rising to 100 per cent by 2035. 

Brian Kingston, president and CE…