International trade

U.S. President Donald Trump is focusing on Canada’s film industry in his latest attack on Canadian jobs, ordering the U.S. Department of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to begin the process of imposing a 100% tariff on movies produced outside the United States.

"Once again, President Trump is using bogus national security claims to justify punishing tariffs against Canadian workers," said Unifor National President Lana Payne. "This is an attack on one of Canada’s key cultural and economic sectors, and it’s nothing short of outrageous."

INGERSOLL—The news of General Motors' decision to temporarily halt and then reduce production of the BrightDrop electric delivery van at CAMI Assembly Plant is devastating for Unifor members, their families, and the entire Ingersoll community.

TORONTO—Canadian counter-tariffs of 25% on vehicles imported from U.S., which came into effect today, are a necessary retaliation says Unifor. 

“There is absolutely no justification for the United States to impose tariffs on Canadian vehicles. Canada did not start this trade war, but we have no choice but to fight. We refuse to back down and sacrifice Canada’s auto jobs and industry on Donald Trump’s altar,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. 

OTTAWA — Canada's largest public and private sector unions stand united against attacks on Canadian workers initiated by the United States Administration’s escalating trade and investment war.

WINDSOR— Stellantis has responded to the imposition of a 25% auto tariff with the temporary layoff of thousands of Unifor Local 444 members at Windsor Assembly Plant and additional layoffs in Mexico and at U.S. facilities. 

Unifor members are putting their elbows up to fight Trump's trade war.

Originally published in the Toronto Star April 2, 2025
Lana Payne

U.S. President Donald Trump stumbling his way through a recent media conference was indicative of how little he knows about an industry he claims to want to protect. 

From the beginning Trump’s tariff schemes for the North American auto industry have been riddled with reasons baked in half-truths and out-right fabrications and misinformation.

TORONTO— With the imposition of a 25% tariff on all vehicles manufactured outside of the United States President Donald Trump has escalated his unjust assault on the Canadian economy and autoworkers.

“Donald Trump has convinced himself that, somehow, the jobs of Canadian autoworkers are his to claim,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “We have built cars here for over a century, long before the U.S. was our primary trade partner. I will state this as clearly and unequivocally as I can. These are not his jobs to take.”

🍁 Our jobs. Our mills. Our communities. Our country. 

Unifor National President Lana Payne and Quebec Director Daniel Cloutier tell us how Unifor is fighting for forestry jobs. 

During her March 24 visit to the Ford Paris Parts Distribution Plant Unifor National President Lana Payne delivered a message to Donald Trump: Our jobs aren’t yours to steal! We’ve had an auto industry here for over 100 years. We’re going to fight to protect it!