U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order that imposes 25 per cent tariffs on all automobile imports to America, and Canadians are fuming about it.
On Wednesday, Trump announced new tariffs that will hit all finished vehicles coming into the U.S. starting April 3. The tariffs will gradually expand to affect auto parts in the next few weeks and eventually hit all non-American auto parts coming into the country.
Trump is also going to be imposing reciprocal tariffs in countries that have placed tariffs in U.S. goods on April 2, in addition to the other 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods that were previously delayed.
Since stepping in as president in January, Trump has imposed tariffs on American goods, aluminium and steel, and made remarks about Canada becoming a U.S. state, which has sparked heightened tensions with Canadians who support strong retaliatory measures and a boycott of American products.
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Prime Minister Mark Carney told reporters on Wednesday that the tariffs represent a “direct attack” on Canadian auto-industry workers and said they are inconsistent with the Canada-United-States-Mexico (CUSMA) agreement first introduced by Trump during his first term in 2018.
“We will defend our workers. We will defend our companies. We will defend our country. And we will defend it together,” he said.
According to Carney, Canada has “other options” to respond to the new tariffs, in addition to the previously imposed retaliatory tariffs on American goods, and said he plans to meet with the Prime Minister’s Canada-U.S. Relations Council today to discuss an appropriate response.
“We will take the steps that are in the interest of Canadian workers of Canada. We’re going to stand up for Canada. We’re going to be united. We will fight in a unified way.”
I’ve convened the Cabinet Committee on Canada-U.S. Relations this morning in response to President Trump’s attack on our workers and our industries.
— Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) March 27, 2025
We will get through this crisis — and we will build a stronger, more resilient economy.
The prime minister said that he believes the tariffs will mainly affect American consumers, but will also have a negative impact on the Canadian automotive industry.
Earlier on Wednesday, Carney had also announced a Liberal government proposal of a $2-billion fund to provide aid to auto-sector companies and help build more car parts in Canada.
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According to him, the objective of the measure is not only to retaliate against the U.S. threats and tariffs, but to boost the Canadian industry supply chain.
“We’re not just protecting the present, we’re looking to build the future,” he said. “Canadian auto workers don’t just build vehicles, they build Canada.”
“President Trump’s trade war has put the kinship that exists between our great nations under greater strain than at any point in our storied histories,” he said.
FORD SUPPORTS RETALIATORY TARIFFS
Speaking with reporters on Wednesday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said that he supports retaliatory tariffs but will wait to see what is going to happen on April 2, as Trump has constantly changed his mind about tariffs in the past.
The premier said he recommended Carney to assemble a meeting with other province leaders to develop a response plan next week.
“We just aren’t going to roll over. We’re going to retaliate and he’s going to feel the pain from the American people.”
“We’re going to make sure that we inflict as much pain as possible to the American people without inflicting pain on the Canadian population. All he’s doing is hurt the American people,” he added.
President Trump is at it again.
— Doug Ford (@fordnation) March 26, 2025
His 25 per cent tariffs on cars and light trucks will do nothing more than increase costs for hard-working American families. U.S. markets are already on the decline as the president causes more chaos and uncertainty. He’s putting American jobs at…
CANADIANS ASK FOR RETALIATION
Canadians online are not happy with the newly announced tariffs. Many are supporting strong retaliatory measures against the southern neighbours, calling on premiers to respond with surcharges and even suggesting that residents should boycott American cars.
“Raise him @MarkJCarney. Add 30% export tariffs on auto part, we have a better credit rating and lower per capita debt , we can survive the stand off longer. He’s got debt refinancing he can’t afford in sept,” a user said on X.
“Canada will now be able to open up the market to the world, and anybody (US, EU, India, China, Korea, Japan) can ship and sell cars in Canada and compete equally (no more privileged position for US car companies). If BYD wants to flood the market with cheap EVs and kill Tesla and EVs from GM, go for it,” a Reddit user also said.
“C’mon Premiers – surcharge time,” a different user chimed in.
“25% ontario energy surcharges back on the menu boys!!”
FEDERAL CANDIDATES WEIGH IN
Speaking with reporters on Wednesday, Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre said that he believes Canada should retaliate against the “unjustified” tariffs by imposing tariffs on American goods not needed by Canada, and that the country should strengthen its internal market to be self-sufficient and “stand on our own two feet.”
“We need to take drastic action to build an economic fortress in Canada able to build other markets around the world,” he said.
President Trump's unjustified tariffs on our auto sector are an assault on our economy and workers.
— Pierre Poilievre (@PierrePoilievre) March 27, 2025
The Americans will soon see how the pain will be felt on both sides of the border.
Canada First Conservatives will build a Canadian economic fortress to protect our affected jobs… pic.twitter.com/CvKghQ4AE1
Telling Trump to “knock it off,” Poilievre said that the president is hurting both sides of the border with his measure and going against what he called “the best trade relationship in the history of the world.”
“They are hurting both sides of the border. They will kill American jobs and they will raise American prices, and we will necessarily have to retaliate,” he added.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh also commented on the tariffs during his campaign trail in London, Ont., calling out Carney for not developing a plan to protect workers beforehand.
“This is why I had called on Mark Carney to put in place protections for workers before going to an election. This is not a game, this is serious,” he said.
We have to fight back against these Trump tariffs.
— Jagmeet Singh (@theJagmeetSingh) March 26, 2025
There is no appeasement.
Donald Trump is a bully who only understands strength.
We must stand with Canadian auto workers and make sure they have every support they need.
We will not let Trump steal these jobs.
And we cannot…
When asked about the $2-billion plan proposed by Carney earlier on Wednesday, Singh said he believes the measure should have been put in place as soon as the prime minister was sworn in.
“Too late. This should have been done in the first week he was prime minister,” he said to reporters on scene.
