TORONTO –President Trump’s abrupt termination of trade negotiations with Canada is the latest excuse to drag out talks while the U.S. continues to siphon off investment and good jobs out of Canada.

“From the start Trump’s intention has been to destroy our industrial base and bully Canada into economic subservience,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “The President’s fake outrage over a TV ad is just his latest ploy to sabotage any progress made by the Canadian negotiating team.”

Unifor maintains that the U.S. administration has no real interest in a reasonable, comprehensive trade agreement. Instead, its strategy is to cherry-pick sectors to extract the materials and advantages America wants, while escalating attacks on vital industries that sustain good middle-class jobs in Canada.

“This is why Canada cannot allow the U.S. to pit workers against workers, sectors against sectors, regions against regions and Canadians against Canadians. We fight back together, we stand together because that is how we win,” warned Payne.

The TV ads at the centre of Trump’s manufactured dispute—sponsored by the Ontario government—highlighted former U.S. President Ronald Reagan’s own anti-tariff message.

“Premier Ford, whose province has been hit hard by the trade war, understands that we can’t negotiate from our knees. We need to fight back. We can’t remain silent while we are bleeding jobs, and our workers and industries are under attack by unjust and punitive tariffs. That is exactly the outcome Trump is counting on,” said Payne.

BRAMPTON/INGERSOLL –Unifor members and supporters are rallying this week at the Brampton Assembly Plant and CAMI Assembly Plant to defend Canadian auto jobs and send a clear message to automakers – if you want to sell here you need to build here.

“By eliminating good paying auto jobs here in Canada automakers are betraying the very workers and communities that built their success,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “We know there is a trade war, but the Canadian market is very important. We are in fact their number one export market and Canadians expect these companies to maintain production here and any attempt to dismantle operations at these plants will not be tolerated.”

Earlier this month, Stellantis announced plans to transfer the Jeep Compass program from Brampton Assembly Plant to the U.S., breaking commitments made to Unifor members and to both the Ontario and federal governments.

Shortly after, General Motors cancelled the BrightDrop electric vehicle program at CAMI Assembly Plant in Ingersoll with no replacement product named, while it continues preparations to eliminate the third shift at Oshawa Assembly Plant in January.

Workers, union leaders, and community allies gathered today at both facilities as part of coordinated Solidarity Actions to show the collective resolve to protect good jobs and keep production in Canada. The Solidarity Action will continue October 30 with possible future dates.

“The future of these plants are tied to the livelihoods of Canadians. Stellantis and GM cannot treat these jobs as bargaining chips in their dealings with Trump,” said Unifor Ontario Regional Director Samia Hashi. “These companies owe it to their workers and to Canada to stand by their commitments and keep production here.”

Canadians overwhelmingly support the protection of Canadian auto jobs and other key industrial sectors, according to a new Pollara survey. The nationwide poll shows three-in-four (74%) believe if the Canadian auto sector collapsed, it would have a “devastating” impact on the Canadian economy.

Importantly, 70% feel Canada should not sacrifice the auto sector to get a good trade deal with the US, with that figure rising to 75% in Ontario.

“Canadians fully understand the significance of this U.S. attack Canadian workers, their communities and to the country’s entire industrial base,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “As a nation it’s clear that we do not want to back down and allow Trump to kill Canadian auto and manufacturing jobs.”

The Pollara poll, commissioned in partnership by Unifor and the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association, sampled more than 2,700 people and was in the field Oct. 11 to Oct. 20, 2025.

“Canadian automotive suppliers invest billions of dollars annually in advanced manufacturing work that helps keep this country globally competitive. Canadians understand that this is under threat from abroad precisely because of the high-level employment and economic benefit these commitments generate,” said Flavio Volpe, President, Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association.

Facing Trump’s targeted tariffs and rising global uncertainty, Canadians expressed clear concern for key industries. 78% said they worry about the future of the auto sector, tied with forestry (78%), with steel (76%), aluminum (74%), and oil and gas (73%) close behind.

Unifor represents 24,000 forestry sector members spread across 10 Canadian provinces.

As of Oct. 14, 2025, the combined general softwood duty rate now exceeds 45% after the U.S. imposed new Section 232 tariffs by an additional 10% tariff. There are further planned increases on certain upholstered furniture, and kitchen cabinets and vanities, slated to increase by an additional 24% in January 2026.

In June 2025, the U.S. increased the tariff on Canadian aluminum and steel from 25% to 50% under a Section 232, where Trump classifies the imports as a national security threat.

Earlier this month, Unifor cautioned the federal government against entering into piecemeal trade negotiations with the U.S. that could weaken Canada’s overall bargaining position and surrender critical leverage—in steel, aluminum and energy, the very materials the U.S. needs to run its industries—before comprehensive agreements are reached in key sectors such as auto and forestry.

“Canadians know that Trump’s attacks don’t end at our auto industry–they are concerned how these other key sectors in his crosshairs will create instability for them, and threaten our jobs,” added Payne.

“This is an overall attack on Canada’s industrial base.”

The poll also revealed that:

▪63% of Canadians (including 80% of Liberal voters) feel the Government of Canada should provide financial support to keep the auto sector afloat for the duration of the trade war with the US.

▪Two-in-three (67%) Canadians would boycott or consider a boycott of a company that moved its operations from Canada to the US due to tariffs.

View the full poll findings here.