US tariffs threaten jobs on both sides of the border

Thursday 06 March 2025 - 13:36

By: Zahouani Ilham

US tariffs threaten jobs on both sides of the border

The imposition of tariffs by the US administration on goods imported from Canada is jeopardizing jobs in both countries, warns the Canadian union Unifor.

“These tariffs will harm workers by increasing the cost of everyday goods, destroy jobs on both sides of the border, and have devastating consequences in highly integrated manufacturing sectors, including the automotive industry, across Canada and the United States,” emphasized Lana Payne, Unifor's national president, in a statement.

The 25% tariff on Canadian goods and 10% on energy imports to the US came into effect on Tuesday.

“It is now up to every politician, business leader, worker, and citizen in Canada to respond and retaliate,” added the national president of Canada’s largest private-sector union.

“Today, our trade relationship with the US has changed forever, and we must now invest in our domestic capacities, redefine our international trade relationships, and build a new, more resilient economy,” she highlighted.

Unifor represents 320,000 workers across all major sectors of the Canadian economy.

The Bank of Canada has warned that the 25% tariff on Canadian exports to the US will have a devastating effect on the Canadian economy. The country’s GDP could decrease by 3% in the first year, pushing the economy, which was projected to grow by 1.8%, into negative territory, according to the central bank.

Goods and services worth $3.6 billion cross the border between the two countries every day.