TORONTO—Unifor is calling on the federal government to keep all options on the table in the escalating trade war with the U.S. as new auto tariffs will fall on Canada’s auto sector at midnight tonight.

“Trump is gaslighting us, wanting us to be grateful for not having reciprocal tariffs imposed on Canada while he tries to pick off our domestic industries one by one. We won’t fall for it,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “Today’s announcement offers absolutely no relief to Canadian workers who are ready to fight for every job, every plant, every community in this U.S.-initiated trade war.”

In today’s tariff announcement at the White House, U.S. President Donald Trump did not include Canada in sweeping country-wide reciprocal tariffs. However, previously announced tariffs on non-CUSMA compliant Canadian-made vehicles will come into effect on April 3. The U.S. will also continue its existing 25% tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum as well as other tariffs on Canadian exports, including softwood lumber, and threatened tariffs on pharmaceuticals, copper, semiconductors, wood products and others expected to come into force in the future.

“No one can deny what Trump is trying to do: divert investment away from Canada, steal Canadian jobs, and threaten our sovereignty,” added Payne. “The reality is that this trade war is just getting started and Canada is still feeling the pain of U.S. trade penalties disproportionately worse than any country in the world. That’s why Canada needs the strongest possible response to these tariffs while we work towards building a more resilient Canadian economy.”

Unifor’s comprehensive submission to the federal government’s U.S. tariff consultations, released today, calls for a strong response to U.S. economic aggression, including tailored counter-tariff measures for the auto sector. Industry experts anticipate that cost of new vehicles will rise dramatically with a slowdown of new vehicle sales predicted.

Read Unifor’s recommendations to protect jobs and build a more resilient Canadian economy here.

WINDSOR— Stellantis has responded to the imposition of a 25% auto tariff with the temporary layoff of thousands of Unifor Local 444 members at Windsor Assembly Plant and additional layoffs in Mexico and at U.S. facilities.

“Unifor warned that U.S. tariffs would hurt auto workers almost immediately and in this case the layoffs were announced before the auto tariff even came into effect,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “Trump is about to learn how interconnected the North American production system is the hard way, with auto workers paying the price for that lesson.”

Last night, Unifor Local 444 members were informed of a two-week plant shutdown beginning April 7, 2025, with additional schedule changes expected in the coming weeks. The auto tariff on all non-U.S. content in Canadian-made vehicles commenced today.

Unifor represents more than 4,500 Stellantis workers at the Windsor Assembly Plant with additional members employed in the auto parts supply chain, including Unifor members at Local 195.

“Our members are concerned for their jobs and frustrated by the uncertainty that these unjust and needless tariffs are creating across the industry,” said Local 444 President James Stewart. “We are prepared to fight for our jobs with the full backing of Unifor members across the country.”

Unifor has called for increased supports for workers impacted by the trade war and for strong retaliatory action against the U.S.

“The U.S. is targeting Canada’s economy sector by sector, starting with steel, aluminium and auto,” added Payne. “Canada needs to respond swiftly and strategically to halt Trump’s attempt to steal jobs and pick off industries one-by-one.”

TORONTO— With the imposition of a 25% tariff on all vehicles manufactured outside of the United States President Donald Trump has escalated his unjust assault on the Canadian economy and autoworkers.

“Donald Trump has convinced himself that, somehow, the jobs of Canadian autoworkers are his to claim,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “We have built cars here for over a century, long before the U.S. was our primary trade partner. I will state this as clearly and unequivocally as I can. These are not his jobs to take.”

Trump has included Canada in the U.S. auto tariff, despite having the most highly integrated and tightly woven supply chain between any two countries in the world; and a trade relationship that is in near-perfect balance.

“President Trump fails to understand the chaos and damage this tariff will inflict on workers and consumers in both Canada and the United States,” added Payne.

The new auto tariff is scheduled to take effect on April 2, the same date that Trump will announce as yet unspecified reciprocal tariffs against U.S. international trade partners. According to reports, auto tariffs will be applied to the value of all non-U.S. content in finished vehicles, a move that entirely violates the terms of the CUSMA as well as automotive-specific side letters to the deal.

Earlier this month, the U.S. implemented a 25% tariff on Canadian steel and aluminum imported to the United States. An additional 25% tariff on Canadian goods and 10% tariff on energy and potash imported to the U.S. is also currently on pause, if those goods comply with CUSMA. Trump has also threatened future tariffs on lumber, pharmaceuticals, microchips, copper and other goods.

“It’s attack followed by attack followed by attack,” said Payne. “We cannot expect our trade relationship with the U.S. to ever go back to the way it was so we must forge a new economy that creates and supports Canadian jobs.”

Read Unifor’s recommendations to protect jobs and shore up the economy here.