Together, we have faced down threats, defended our industries, and proven time and again that unity is our greatest strength.

Together, we will push back against all unjustified tariffs and stand united in defense of Canadian workers. 

Access the latest news on trade issues on this page. 

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A message from Unifor National President Lana Payne

Members,

We find ourselves in a time of great uncertainty, change and challenge. The inauguration of President Donald Trump has created a new era in Canada-U.S. relations, one that threatens the livelihoods of workers across Canada and the stability of our economy. Decades ago, union workers rallied against a “free trade” agreement with the United States, an effort to deepen economic ties with a country far larger than our own. As we face the looming threat of sweeping and illegal tariffs on Canadian exports, it is essential to recognize the magnitude of this moment, the tools we need to defend our economic interests and the strength we possess when we stand together. 

Unifor members take great pride in the work they do and the contributions they make to our communities—and we will do whatever it takes to protect Canadian workers and our economic sovereignty. 

The challenges before us are unprecedented. The mere mention of tariffs, entirely unjustified and unwarranted from our closest ally, has already sent shockwaves through industries vital to our communities. These threats represent real risks to the jobs, families, and the communities that depend on them. The stakes are high, and the path forward will require unified action. This is a wake-up call to all Canadians. Our relations with the United States are now forever changed. 

We must invest in our own economy and make sure we’re doing everything we can to make it more resilient because  volatility will mark the next four years of Trump’s presidency and possibly stretch even further. We must use the levers we have in Canada to create and build good Canadian jobs. To that end Unifor has outlined actions needed to protect Canadian workers, jobs and our economy. Read Unifor’s recommendations here. In these difficult times, we are reminded of the power of solidarity. As workers, as Canadians, and as members of Unifor, we have always risen to meet adversity. 

Together, we have faced down threats, defended our industries, and proven time and again that unity is our greatest strength.

Together, we will push back against all unjustified tariffs and stand united in defense of Canadian workers. 

In solidarity,

Lana Payne
National President, Unifor

Standing together against tariff threats

The inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump marks a new and challenging chapter in Canada-U.S. relations. Illegal and unjustified tariff threats pose an existential threat to Canadian workers, including tens of thousands of Unifor members in trade-exposed sectors. 

Never in modern history has Canada faced such a rebuke from its largest trading partner and closest ally. The threats against the livelihoods of Canadian workers have crossed a dangerous line. This cannot be tolerated. However, by recognizing these actions as unprovoked, unjustified, and unwarranted, Canada must consider a wide range of responses to the United States in an equally strategic and assertive manner.

Unifor has consistently raised the alarm about the devastating impact of U.S. tariffs under a Trump administration. The very mention of these sweeping tariffs threatens Canadian workers, industries, and the broader economy—creating a highly precarious situation for Canadian workers.

Our union stands ready to protect members and jobs, while advocating for a united and strategic national response to this unprecedented threat.

Key challenges
  1. Impact on workers

The very threat of U.S. tariffs on Canadian exports could chill investment in trade-dependent sectors, damaging our economy and impacting tens of thousands of jobs.

  1. Economic interdependence

Canadian and American industries, particularly auto, manufacturing, energy, forestry, and more, have grown  deeply intertwined and increasingly inter-dependent on one another over many decades, for better or for worse. Tariffs will disrupt production, supply chains, and put jobs at risk on both sides of the border. 

  1. Chaos and uncertainty

The unpredictability of U.S. trade policy under Trump’s administration is entirely contrary to “free trade” agreement terms that exist between our countries, and adds further instability, with ripple effects already being felt in investment and economic planning. 

Unifor’s recommendations to protect workers and our economy

Unifor recommends a strong response to Trump’s tariff threats and calls for the following measures to safeguard our economy and protect workers and their families.

  1. Targeted and strategic tariff retaliation

If U.S. tariffs are imposed on Canadian exports, the federal government must prepare to issue retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports immediately.

Canadian officials should consider the nominal value of U.S. tariffs in determining reciprocity rather than implementing like-for-like tariffs based on individual goods. This approach will give Canada greater flexibility to apply tariffs to targeted goods at levels deemed appropriate.

  1. Strategic management of national resources through industrial policy

President Trump falsely claims that the United States subsidizes the Canadian economy due to its trade deficit in goods. Not only does this misinterpret what a trade deficit measures, but it also ignores the fact that U.S. trade with Canada is in far greater balance than with other major trading partners. Missing from the president’s assertion is the that Canadian oil and gas exports account for the entirety of Canada’s surplus, according to a January 2025 report by the National Bank of Canada. If not for the U.S.’s consistent demand for Canada’s raw energy inputs, it would be Canada claiming trade deficit, with the U.S. in surplus.

Unifor has long called on federal and provincial governments to exercise greater public discretion over the export of natural resources, elevating Canada’s position in the value chain. 

The federal government, in consultation with provinces, must consider ways to manage the outflow of rare earth metals, critical minerals, lumber, oil and gas, aluminum, and potash. Bolstering domestic capacity to process, refine, and transform these inputs into higher-value goods will not only rebuild production capacity but also create good jobs, diversify exports, and reduce dependence on foreign nations like the United States.

  1. Establish Reciprocal Procurement Policies for U.S. Suppliers; Leverage Public Purchasing for Industrial Development 

Access to U.S. federal and state procurement is heavily restricted. “Buy America” and “Buy American” rules effectively exclude Canadian suppliers from bidding on contracts. Over time, these rules have become more onerous, directly contributing to job losses in Canada, including among Unifor members. By contrast, Canada maintains a mostly open and unfettered procurement market for U.S. suppliers.

The federal government identified this disparity in 2023 and committed to implementing reciprocity measures in the “short term,” but no action has yet been taken. U.S.-based suppliers should be subject to the same procurement conditions in Canada as exist in their home market. Procuring entities should favor Canadian suppliers over U.S. suppliers, all other factors being equal.

Public purchasing across all levels of government in Canada generates significant economic activity, totaling an estimated $300 billion per year, according to the Canadian Collaborative Procurement Initiative. This represents a major opportunity to reinvest strategically in the domestic economy, supporting sector-specific industrial strategies that foster Canadian innovation and develop necessary skills and production capacities.

  1. Emergency relief to mitigate risk of layoff, sustain operations

U.S. import tariffs will have varying effects on Canadian firms, depending on factors such as customer profiles, U.S. export dependence, financial positions, and more. A key government objective in this pending dispute should be to sustain Canadian operations where possible and mitigate the risk of layoffs caused by workplace closures or production slowdowns.

Export-dependent firms demonstrating financial distress should have access to preferential loan guarantees to maintain operations. Additionally, the federal government should consider deploying a program like the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy program (CEWS) to keep Canadians working, and for eligible firms in trade-dependent sectors and communities. This would temporarily subsidize salaries and help keep employees on payroll. Revenue generated through retaliatory tariffs could partially fund these and other support measures.

  1. Enhanced income supports for workers

Canada must prepare for a potential rise in unemployment and provide additional income supports to workers in trade-exposed industries and communities, like measures implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. These supports should include improved access to Employment Insurance benefits or other special income assistance programs, with more accessible qualifying rules and enhanced income support to offset a greater share of lost income — particularly for workers in high-wage, trade-exposed workplaces. Additionally, benefits should be extended in duration, with allowances for workers to earn supplementary income or undertake education while receiving support.

The federal government should deploy resources to mitigate job losses resulting from U.S. tariffs, including an expanded Canadian Work-Share program, bridge subsidies for early retirement, and income supplements for training, among others.

Next steps

The challenges posed by the incoming Trump administration require Canada to take decisive action to safeguard its economy and protect its workers. The response measures above are critical to shielding Canadian interests and asserting our economic sovereignty.

By adopting strong, forward-thinking industrial strategies, Canada can not only defend itself against immediate threats but also build a more resilient, diversified, and self-reliant economy for the future.

We are in this fight together. Our union is working tirelessly to protect your jobs, advocate for free and fair trade, and ensure Canada’s economic prosperity.

Together, we will stand strong against these threats and emerge more united than ever.

Questions and Answers
  1. What is Unifor doing to protect workers? 

Unifor is advocating for a united Canadian response, meeting with government officials, and pushing for strong retaliatory measures while demanding worker support programs. National President Lana Payne is directly advocating for workers as an appointee to the Prime Minister’s Council on Canada-U.S. Relations and a member of the industry-led Canada U.S. Trade Council. 

  1. What are tariffs, and why are they being imposed? 

Tariffs are levies, imposed by governments on goods that cross-borders. President Trump is threatening to impose import tariffs on goods shipped from Canada and into the United States, for reasons that are unclear.  Unilaterally imposed tariffs on Canada breach multiple trade treaties, harming industries that rely on cross-border trade, creating economic instability and impacting tens of thousands of Unifor members. Tariffs on Canadian goods imported to the U.S. are paid by the company importing the products and will raise costs to Americans when they purchase Canadian products. 

  1. How will tariffs impact Canadian workers? 

U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods could lead to job losses in trade-exposed sectors. For Unifor members, this could mean potential layoffs, reduced hours, and economic uncertainty. 

  1. How can we fight U.S. tariffs? 

Unifor has called for swift, targeted dollar-for-dollar tariff retaliation on select American-made imports. Export tariffs, potential export bans and other non-tariff related retaliation should remain as an option in Canada’s arsenal. 
Canadians can support jobs at home by looking for ‘Made in Canada’ labels on their purchases. 

  1. Is the U.S. subsidising Canada as Trump claims? 

No. This is a false claim by President Trump. Trump is referring to the United States trade deficit with Canada, which is not a subsidy at all. The export of needed oil and energy from Canada account for the majority of the trade deficit. A 2025 report by the National Bank of Canada illustrates that, except for Canadian oil and gas exports, America sells more in Canada than Canada sells to the U.S. 

  1. Will the threat of tariffs impact collective bargaining? 

Unifor will not allow companies to exploit the tariff threat to extract long-term concessions during bargaining.

  1. What support is Unifor advocating for in the event of a trade war? 

Unifor is pushing the government to implement strong worker and business support programs to mitigate the impact of tariffs, keep workplaces operating and helping those facing layoff including enhanced income support measures and support for vulnerable industries.

Watch Lana Payne’s media interviews on tariffs and trade 

CTV News Channel, February 10 

Trump’s order to impose tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum is just the latest attack in his full-on economic war against Canada. “Make no mistake Trump is coming for Canada and the jobs of Canadian workers,” says Unifor's Lana Payne. 

CBC News Network, February 8

Unifor’s Lana Payne on what Canada needs to do to fight U.S. tariffs while forging its own path.

CTV News Channel, February 8

“The threats I don’t believe will stop. The goalposts will continue to change. This president will continue to look for concessions from our country. We need to do a reset and this is the opportunity and the moment we are in to do that,” says Lana Payne.

CBCNN, February 6

U.S. tariffs are paused but we can’t pause in Canada. We have to carry on and take this time to look at how we deal with the U.S. going forward, says Lana Payne ahead of the Canada-U.S. Economic Summit.

CP24, February 6

Lana Payne calls on Canadian grocery stores to clearly identify Made in Canada products on their shelves to help customers support jobs in their communities and across the country.

CTV News, February 6

It’s important to make it easy for Canadians to support their country right now. One way to do that is for big grocers to make it easy for customers to know which products are Made in Canada says Lana Payne as Unifor calls for products to be clearly labeled on the shelf.