OTTAWA — The federal government is pushing back against ongoing American tariffs on Canadian solar products.

In a statement today, International Trade Minister Mary Ng calls the tariffs "unwarranted" and says they "clearly violate the provisions and the spirit" of the North American free-trade deal.

She says Canada has asked to consult with the U.S. on the continued tariffs as the first step in a dispute settlement process under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

The tariffs were imposed in 2018 and the federal government says they have caused Canadian exports of solar products to the U.S. to fall by up to 82 per cent.

Ng says Canada and the U.S. must work together on the fight against climate change, including by attracting investment in the North American economy as it recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.

She says that includes creating jobs in both countries in the "competitive low-carbon global economy."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 7, 2021.

The Canadian Press