How Canada's auto industry is 'on the ballot' in today's U.S. presidential election
CBC
As voters decide who will take over the White House, there's a feeling the person who becomes U.S. president will bring in policies that could shift Canada's role in the automotive industry.
Promises from both the Republican and Democratic parties to protect vehicle manufacturing in the United States and skepticism of North America's free trade agreement have been central themes to the extensive campaign stops in Michigan.
"The auto industry is on the ballot in 2024 like never before," said Patrick Anderson, who runs a consultant firm in Michigan that works with manufacturers on both sides of the border.
Anderson said there are "two completely different visions for the future of the industry" as pitched by Republican candidate and former president Donald Trump and the Democratic candidate, Vice-President Kamala Harris.
Trump says he plans to put a 10 per cent tariff on any product imported to the U.S. and it's expected to apply to automotive suppliers across Ontario and Quebec.
"Donald Trump is the most provocative president in decades in terms of threatening and using tariff policy to push other nations into more favourable terms of trade with the United States," said Anderson.
"And this is certainly unsettling to close trading partners like Canada."
But experts don't believe Trump will follow through on that pitch.
"It would be catastrophic, but I don't think it's a real threat," said Flavio Volpe, who heads the Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association in Canada.
Volpe worked extensively on negotiations for the new free trade deal for North America and feels something can be negotiated through once again.
"What Trump doesn't understand, but the people around him do understand, is that tariffs are paid by the end customer."
Harris has been quiet on tariffs, spending much more time talking about her continued push to build electric vehicles (EVs) in the United States.
Harris is expected to continue the current administration's push toward EVs by supporting incentives to build them in North America.
Trump has said he plans to remove subsidies from the Inflaction Reduction Act (IRA) if he's elected and has signalled a push to recommit America to vehicles powered by gas.
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