Windsor autoworkers say they feel betrayed by Trump's tariffs

CBC
Sun, February 2, 2025 

John D'Agnolo is the president of Unifor Local 200, which represents Ford workers in Windsor-Essex. (Pratyush Dayal/CBC - image credit)

News that Trump will impose double-digit tariffs on Canadian imports this week is weighing heavily on the minds of Windsor, Ont., autoworkers and others in the sector.

Jonathan Klein works at the Stellantis Windsor Assembly Plant, where the Chrysler Pacifica, Grand Caravan and Dodge Charger Daytona are built.

Speaking outside the facility where he has worked since 2014, Klein said he has a young family and he didn't sleep very well after hearing the news.

"There's definitely a lot of worry there," he said.

He called the move short-sighted and said both the U.S. and Canadian economies are going to suffer.
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"I was pretty devastated when I heard the news... it feels very unreasonable. We're America's— I'd say closest neighbour and friend, and it just feels like betrayal to me," he said.

The tariffs kick in on Tuesday. Trump has signalled he wants to boost domestic manufacturing, and he wants Canada to take action on securing its border.

Canada has slapped 25 per cent retaliatory tariffs on $30 billion worth of American products in response, with a further $125 billion in imports to face tariffs within weeks.

Daryl Wiznuk, who has worked at the plant for 30 years, says he also feels "betrayed," noting how Canada has stood by the U.S. through various conflicts.

If there's layoffs, he worries about the younger workers who have less seniority.

"It's just bad. It's not fair," he said.

Autoworker Mark Merkestyn said, "They're hurting themselves, they're hurting us, they're hurting everybody, all to fill this guy's ego."

Workers in Windsor-Essex also build the engines for the popular Ford F-150 and Super Duty trucks.

John D'Agnolo is the president of Unifor Local 200, the union representing workers at Ford's two engine plants in the region.

D'Agnolo worries the industry will be left devastated after tariffs drive up the cost of the vehicles and lead to decreased production and job losses.

"They absolutely make no sense," he said of the tariffs. "It's one of the most frustrating things I've dealt with in a long time, when you think about what we build here."

He said the engines have thousands of parts and they're crossing the border back and forth in the process, and face tariffs along the way.

"So just think about the engine alone, the cost on the engine alone, let alone the other parts on the vehicle," he said.

WATCH: Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens on Trump's tariffs

CBC News has requested comment from Ford but did not hear back on Sunday.

A spokesperson for Stellantis declined to comment but referred CBC News to the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association (CVMA).

CVMA president and CEO Brian Kingston says he worries about the "immediate economic devastation" caused by the tariffs, but also what it means for North America's ability to compete with the rest of the world in the shift to electric vehicles.

He says right now, there's "no such thing" as a U.S.-built car, because the components and parts are sourced from manufacturers throughout the continent.

Once tariffs are imposed, those parts will get more expensive, but U.S.-based manufacturers don't have the ability to quickly address the new demand for domestic parts.

He says 22 per cent of U.S. vehicles are assembled in Canada and Mexico.

"Estimates are that to replace Canadian production, you would need five, six new assembly plants in the United States at a cost of $50 billion. That is just not realistic." he said.

He anticipates rising vehicle prices along production stoppages at plants across North America as cross-border supply chains — which the auto sector relies deeply on -— are turned on their head.

"And ultimately, we could see job losses in the sector as companies grapple with this new reality," he said.

'Last thing we need,' Whitmer says

Fears for the auto sector are being expressed on the other side of the border as well.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer likened it to a middle class tax hike for Americans. She says the tariffs will hurt the state's autoworkers and drive up the price of cars, groceries and energy.

"Michiganders are already struggling with high costs, and the last thing we need is for those costs to increase even more," she said in a video posted to social media on Saturday.

Rep. Haley Stevens, a Democratic Michigan congresswoman, spoke to CBC's Rosemary Barton on Sunday.

"I truly have no idea what the president of the United States is doing right now," she said. "I cannot, for the life of me, figure out why he would impose and levy a tariff... which is usually (leveled) at an adversary at best, if not an enemy, on our best ally."



Impact of Trump tariffs will leave no industry unscathed in Windsor-Essex, chamber says

CBC
Sun, February 2, 2025 

The automotive, agriculture and manufacturing industries in Windsor-Essex will be hit hard and fast by Trump's tariffs on Canadian goods, but if these penalties stick around, ultimately every business and sector in the region is going to feel it.

That's the dire message from Ryan Donally, the CEO and president of the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce, who's hoping cooler heads will prevail after Trump announced 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods.

"There's not a single industry that won't be affected, and this is a very scary time for all of Windsor-Essex and all of Canada," he said on Sunday.

While Windsor-Essex is well known as Canada's auto capital and a major manufacturing hub, it also has the largest concentration of greenhouse vegetable growers in North America.

Donally says all of these industries will face the consequences of the tariffs, then industries that support them, like logistics providers, will suffer. Eventually, the effects will trickle down to small businesses like insurance companies and chriopractor's offices, he says.

Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens says tens of thousands of jobs are on the line.

"The effects will be quite dramatic here," Dilkens, who chairs a group of border city mayors, told CBC's Rosemary Barton on Sunday.

Dilkens said he's worried about preserving investments like the NextStar electric vehicle battery plant, the first EV battery factory in Canada.

"None of this makes any sense to so many of us. We hope bright minds prevail, and I'm certainly going to fight for my community and make sure we're doing all that we can to preserve the jobs and the investments that we have realized that have benefited, and will benefit, the United States as well."

Dilkens said he's looking to other levels of government to extend supports if necessary, which could look similar to what was offered during COVID-19.

Tariffs to take effect Tuesday

Trump's 25 per cent tariff on goods from Canada starts on Tuesday. Trump wants to see the American trade deficit with Canada shrink, and he's also claimed the tariffs are a consequence of the illegal flow of fentanyl and people across the border.

In response, Canada has launched a tariff barrage of its own, with 25 per cent tariffs on $30 billion worth of American products. In three weeks, the tariffs will apply to another $125 billion worth of U.S. imports.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said American alcohol, vegetables, clothing, shoes and perfume will be among the first items to face Canadian retaliatory tariffs. Canada will also put tariffs on American consumer products such as household appliances, furniture and sports equipment.

Meanwhile, Ontario Premier Doug Ford is banning U.S. booze from the LCBO, one of the world's biggest purchasers of alcohol.

Donally says he supports the actions taken by governments.

"This was an economic war that was started by what was our best friend, a neighbour, ally... and largest trading partner and the Trump administration has essentially declared economic war on us. So, my message up the 401 (highway) is, continue to fight for Canadians."

The chamber is convening a task force of industry leaders on the issue on Monday, Donally says.