International trade

The unjust trade war initiated by the United States poses a clear threat to Canadian jobs and Canadian sovereignty. Unifor continues to call for all levels of government, as well as representatives from all industries, to employ all measures necessary to fight back and take sustained action  as tariffs persist. 

While some industries are more heavily impacted than others through direct trade activity, the tariffs pose an economy-wide threat to Canada. 

Lana Payne, Unifor National President, Originally published in The Hill Times 

When we talk about building a new Canada through improved interprovincial trade and labour mobility, it’s tempting to think the biggest obstacles are bothersome regulations. But let’s not kid ourselves—what’s holding us back isn’t a patchwork of rules; it’s a patchwork of roads, rails, rivers, and rugged terrain.

TORONTO— The decision by U.S. President Donald Trump to double tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum imports to 50% is a direct threat to Canadian jobs and economic stability.

Unifor is urging the federal government to act without delay to defend Canada’s manufacturing sector and counter the escalating trade assault.

TORONTO— Unifor, Canada’s largest private sector union, is calling on the federal government to take immediate and aggressive action against corporations that move jobs out of Canada in response to U.S. trade measures. The union has presented a detailed proposal, including legislative amendments, outlining how the Foreign Extraterritorial Measures Act (FEMA) can be deployed to penalize corporations that offshore or outsource work to the detriment of Canada’s national interest.

On Friday May 9, the U.S. Industry and Security Bureau issued a draft notice announcing a new national security investigation into imports of commercial aircraft, jet engines, and related parts under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act. This move signals a potential shift toward imposing tariffs or other trade barriers on Canadian-made aerospace products—a deeply concerning development for Canada’s aerospace workers.

Canada’s air transportation workers were stunned by U.S. President Donald Trump’s unprovoked and illegal trade war and his inflammatory comments threatening Canada’s sovereignty. 

From the potential for a recession to the reorganization of travel away from the U.S., the actions of this U.S. administration have the potential to seriously impact our industry and the global economy. 

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.