One year into Trump’s tariffs the fight for Canadian jobs continues
This week marks one year since the United States imposed 25% tariffs on the import of Canadian autos, one of the most damaging measures in a series of escalating trade attacks by U.S. President Donald Trump on Canadian workers and industries.
The auto tariffs struck at the heart of Canada’s manufacturing economy, threatening tens of thousands of good-paying jobs and disrupting an integrated North American supply chain.
But they did not come in isolation. In February 2025, the U.S. imposed a 25% tariff on Canadian products and a 10% tariff on energy exports under a false national emergency claim tied to fentanyl. Weeks later, on March 12, tariffs of 25% were applied to Canadian steel and aluminum, later rising to 50%.
More tariffs followed throughout 2025, including duties on copper as well as new tariffs on softwood lumber, heavy duty trucks, timber and wood products, among others further increasing pressure on Canadian workers and communities.
Although the U.S. Supreme Court has struck down the original IEEPA tariffs, the Trump administration committed to reconstructing its tariff policy with other measures, including an immediate 10% tariff on non-CUSMA goods. All the while, the most damaging sectoral tariffs on autos, steel, aluminum, copper, heavy duty trucks and forestry products remain in place.
Trump has been clear about his objective. He has repeatedly said he sees no reason for Detroit Three vehicles to be built in Canada and has openly threatened Canada’s aerospace, steel and aluminum and forestry sectors. These policies are not abstract trade disputes, they are direct attacks on workers, their families and the communities that depend on these industries.
One year into this trade war, the consequences are becoming increasingly visible. Manufacturing job losses are mounting, and uncertainty continues to ripple across supply chains throughout the Canadian economy.
While governments continue negotiations with an erratic and unpredictable administration in Washington, Canada must act decisively on the tools within our control to defend Canadian jobs and strengthen our industrial base.
That means making it clear to companies that profit from the Canadian market: if you want to sell in Canada, you must build in Canada.
Unifor is bringing the Sell Here, Build Here message directly to the public, through social media graphics and coming billboards in hard hit auto communities to call on companies that profit from the Canadian market to invest and build here or risk punishing tariffs and loss of Canadian customers. Download and share the Sell Here, Build Here graphics on social media here.
That same message is being carried directly to Parliament. Last week, Unifor National President Lana Payne led a delegation of leadership and members to Ottawa to meet with federal politicians from all parties and press for concrete action to protect workers and domestic production.
Unifor is calling on the federal government to strengthen Buy Canadian rules so public procurement supports Canadian production, ensure companies selling into Canada invest and build here, and use every available tool to prevent the offshoring of Canadian jobs.
The tariffs have also underscored the urgent need for worker-centred industrial strategies that reinforce Canada’s industrial base across key sectors, including auto, aerospace, forestry, manufacturing, energy and telecommunications, among others, while prioritizing job quality, supply chain resilience and long-term domestic investment.
At the centre of any economic response must be a commitment to good, union jobs. Public funding and procurement must support workplaces where workers have the freedom to organize, bargain collectively and share in the prosperity they create.
Read Unifor’s calls for political action here.
Canadian workers have endured a year of sustained economic pressure from the United States. But they have also shown resilience and solidarity in the face of these attacks.
The fight to defend Canadian jobs, protect our industries, and build a stronger, more resilient economy is far from over. On behalf of members across the nation, Unifor will continue to lead that fight.
Visit protectjobs.ca for the latest on U.S. tariffs and how workers and communities can take action to support Canadian jobs and industry.
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