Liberal Leader Mark Carney is back in Ottawa today to deal with the fallout of new auto tariffs announced by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Carney said he was suspending his campaign plans for the day and would return to Ottawa to hold a meeting of the Canada-U.S. cabinet committee.
It's unclear when Carney will be back on the road to continue campaigning.
Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order to impose 25 per cent tariffs on all automobile imports to the United States next week but the deep integration of the North American industry is resulting in confusion about how those duties will affect the Canadian auto sector.
A fact sheet provided by the White House says automobiles imported under the Canada-U.S.-Mexico-Agreement on trade will only be tariffed on the value of content not made in the United States, and certain auto parts will likely see tariff delays.
It's unclear when Carney will be back on the road to continue campaigning.
Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order to impose 25 per cent tariffs on all automobile imports to the United States next week but the deep integration of the North American industry is resulting in confusion about how those duties will affect the Canadian auto sector.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is set to make stops today in Coquitlam and Surrey, B.C., while NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is scheduled to meet with union leaders and autoworkers in Windsor, Ont.
New U.S. auto tariffs major hit to sector: leaders
Canadian auto industry leaders say the latest tariffs announced today by U.S. President Donald Trump will raise the prices of cars for consumers and devastate the sector.
“This is nuts,” said Flavio Volpe, president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturing Association.
“It seems he's bent on doing the things that he's been warned will shut down the American auto sector," he said.
Trump announced 25 per cent tariffs on all automobile imports effective April 2, which will begin being collected on April 3.
"What we saw (Wednesday) are unjustified and unwarranted and potentially illegal tariffs that have been applied on the auto industry in Canada," said Lana Payne, national president of Unifor — which was formed from a merger including the former Canadian Auto Workers union in 2013. She noted auto workers have been an important part of the Canadian economy for more than a century.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 27, 2025.