Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre is set to head to Detroit on Tuesday to propose a comprehensive trade agreement between Canada and the U.S. amidst the ongoing trade tensions. Before crossing the border, Poilievre made a brief stop in Windsor, Ont., where he mentioned plans to meet with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
During his visit to Detroit, Poilievre intends to tour the General Motors plant and the Ford Rouge plant in Dearborn, Mich. His proposal aims to link automakers’ duty-free access to the volume of vehicles manufactured in each country. Poilievre emphasized that increased production in Canada would lead to expanded sales within Canada, while higher production in the U.S. would facilitate greater sales in the U.S.
The proposed strategy envisions a boost in automobile production by 500,000 to 800,000 units over the next decade to secure duty-free privileges. Poilievre believes that aligning vehicle production with duty-free access objectives would benefit both countries significantly.
His plan includes stringent measures such as banning vehicles containing Chinese and Russian-related software to ensure consumer safety and privacy. Additionally, Poilievre advocates for removing the Goods and Services Tax (GST) from Canadian-made vehicles, which he believes would elevate production levels to approximately two million vehicles, up from the current 1.2 million.
Poilievre emphasized the importance of leveraging Canada’s resources and negotiating a comprehensive agreement with the U.S. that encompasses energy, minerals, and tariff-free trade. The visit coincides with the upcoming U.S. midterm elections, where Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers has criticized President Trump’s trade policies despite previous alignment with the administration. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer highlighted the significant role of the automotive industry in addressing manufacturing employment discrepancies in the U.S.