Canadian auto workers in Windsor fear mass layoffs as US President Donald Trump confirms new tariffs on imports from Canada, threatening the region’s economy.
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| Auto workers in Windsor, Ontario, express concern as US tariffs threaten jobs, impacting Canada’s auto industry and cross-border trade with Detroit. Image: ChicHue |
Windsor, Ontario, Canada — March 4, 2025:
Auto workers in Windsor, Ontario, are reeling after US President Donald Trump confirmed fresh tariffs on Canadian imports, dashing hopes of a last-minute reprieve. The announcement on Monday sent shockwaves through the city, a major hub for the auto industry just across the border from Detroit, Michigan, reads a Tuko post.
For months, Canadian leaders had lobbied for a deal to prevent the tariffs, which Trump initially introduced in February before pausing negotiations. Accusing Canada and Mexico of failing to curb illegal immigration and drug trafficking, he declared that there was now "no room left" for compromise.
The fallout is immediate for Windsor, home to 250,000 residents and deeply tied to the US auto supply chain. With auto parts crossing the border multiple times before final assembly, industry leaders fear factory closures and mass layoffs.
Workers leaving their shifts on Monday voiced anger and anxiety. Joel Soleski, a 26-year-old Stellantis employee, said, “The impact would be a layoff until further notice. I just bought my first house… I might have to look for work elsewhere.”
Stellantis, one of the most vulnerable automakers, produces 40 percent of its US-market vehicles in Canada and Mexico. Meanwhile, Ford union leader John D’Agnolo called the move “not even logical,” warning that job losses could come within weeks, with long-term consequences for car prices.
The Canadian auto industry supports over two million jobs, with 500,000 in Ontario alone. Many workers now fear an economic crisis. “They’re our jobs. We’ve been doing this for 100 years,” said Ford employee Christina Grossi, calling the situation “terrifying.”
Ontario Premier Doug Ford vowed retaliation, declaring, “They want to hit us hard. We will hit them back twice as hard.”
As tensions escalate, Windsor faces an uncertain future, caught in the middle of a political and economic standoff that could reshape North American trade.