A tariff is an additional cost imposed by a country on imported goods. Tariffs are usually paid to governments by importers or buyers of those goods. 

Tariffs are a standard feature in international trade. Tariffs are typically imposed, by governments, on imported products that are unfairly traded causing damage to domestic industries. Tariffs are often imposed on goods following a rigorous, transparent process of investigation and assessment and subject to regular review.  

The Trump Administration has unilaterally and indiscriminately imposed tariffs on goods shipped from Canada, and other countries, into the United States. Trump has claimed presidential authority to impose tariffs on foreign countries, under pre-existing “national security” and “national emergency” laws.  

Since the U.S. and Canadian economies are highly interconnected, U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods (and retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods) will likely increase the cost of everyday goods, from groceries to vehicles. These higher costs would affect both Canadian and American consumers on both sides of the border.

U.S. tariffs could also lead to widespread job losses in trade-exposed sectors, if the cost of producing goods in Canada (for the U.S. market) becomes more expensive. For thousands of Unifor members, tariffs have resulted in production slowdowns, reduced hours, delayed investments or investment reallocation, economic uncertainty and, in extreme cases, plant closures and layoffs.  

Job losses in high-wage, trade-exposed sectors  also put stress on government finances in Canada, threatening cuts to public services, the exact services that people rely on in times of crisis.

Unifor is advocating for a united Canadian response to U.S. tariffs, and to defend Canada’s sovereignty.  The union regularly meets with employers and government officials at the federal, provincial, and municipal levels, and is monitoring the impact of tariffs on workplaces closely. Unifor is also pushing government to respond strongly and strategically, to keep businesses and jobs in Canada, to consider big and bold ideas to protect and build Canada’s economy and demanding effective worker support programs.

Buy Unifor Made

All Canadians can take the pledge to buy made in Canada goods. Sign up today to take the pledge and receive a link to Unifor Made Products and Services.  

When you’re shopping, check for Made in Canada labels. For vehicles, a VIN starting with the number 2 means your car was made in Canada.

No. This is a false claim by President Trump. 

Trump is referring to the United States trade deficit with Canada, which is not a subsidy.

The export of needed oil and energy from Canada accounts for much of the trade deficit. A 2025 report by the National Bank of Canada illustrates that, except for Canadian oil and gas exports, America sells more in Canada than Canada sells to the U.S. 

Unifor will not allow companies to exploit the tariff threat to extract long-term concessions during bargaining. This union continues to deliver this message directly to employers, and to governments, across the country.

Numerous lawsuits have been filed by American citizen and business groups against the President’s tariff implementation.  The President’s authority to impose certain tariffs is right now being scrutinized by the Supreme Court of the United States, with a judgment expected in early 2026.

Unifor estimates that approximately one-third, or 120,000 members, work in trade-dependent industries – industries that either export goods (e.g. manufacturing, processing, resources) or facilitate the export of goods (e.g. transportation and logistics).

The Trump Administration has imposed blanket tariffs on all Canadian goods, with exceptions for those that meet North American content rules.

The Trump Administration has also imposed sector-specific tariffs on Canadian goods under the guise of “national security”. These sector tariffs directly impact the Canadian auto and parts industries, the wood product and forestry industries, steel and aluminum industries, as well as copper, heavy trucks, among other industries. Unifor members in workplaces with high exposure to the U.S. market are severely and disproportionately impacted by Trump’s tariffs.