OTTAWA — The federal government is “actively considering next steps” to stop the flow of Chinese-made electric vehicles into Canada, which could include new tariffs. But it will need to act fast to ensure that Canada is in lockstep with its economic partners.

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland’s office would not say if Canada will follow the lead of the United States, which announced in May a plan to slap punishing tariffs of more than 100 per cent on low-priced Chinese EVs to prevent them from flooding the U.S. market.