Canada's trade war with the United States has some economists pondering whether the federal government should ease or lift its 100 per cent tariff on Chinese electric vehicles, a move some say could spur EV purchases and deliver a blow to Elon Musk's Tesla.

Automakers, however, say the tariffs are critical to protecting this country's nascent EV industry.

Canada followed the U.S. in slapping the tariffs on Chinese EVs last fall, while also putting a 25 per cent surtax on imports of steel and alum…