Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is set to journey to Detroit on Tuesday to advocate for the elimination of cross-border tariffs affecting Canadian manufacturing, as revealed by his office on Monday. This visit to the Motor City comes at a time when trade tensions persistently impact vital Canadian sectors such as automotive, steel, aluminum, and forestry.
During his trip, Poilievre is scheduled to engage with American business executives and endorse his proposed “Tariff-Free Auto Pact” to various U.S. media outlets. The primary objective of his plan is to establish a tariff-free auto agreement and boost Canada’s annual auto production to two million vehicles within the next decade.
In a statement, Poilievre emphasized the adverse effects of tariffs on costs and employment in both nations, stressing the importance of removing trade barriers to enhance economic prospects for workers and businesses on both sides of the border. This aligns with his previous efforts in March when he visited Detroit to meet with Michigan officials and representatives from Ford and General Motors, advocating for a unified North American auto sector and tariff-free trade.
The repercussions of tariffs on Canada’s automotive industry are particularly felt in Windsor, located just across the river from Detroit. Recent layoffs at the Windsor assembly plant by Stellantis have been attributed in part to these tariffs, underscoring the urgency of resolving trade challenges to safeguard jobs and industry sustainability.