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Unifor calls for ‘Sell Here, Build Here,’ mandates on anniversary of Trump auto tariffs

Unifor
Wednesday at 12:55pm ADT · April 1, 2026 3 min read

TORONTO, April 1, 2026 /CNW/ – As Canadian workers mark one year of economic disruption and job losses triggered by U.S. tariffs targeting Canada’s auto industry and other key sectors, Unifor is escalating the union’s clear demand to corporate and government decision-makers: “Sell Here. Build Here.”

“The last twelve months saw workers in trade exposed industries go through hell. We’ve witnessed job loss and workers left in limbo as Trump continues to hammer our economy,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.

“What Canada needs now is a coherent national strategy to protect jobs and hold companies accountable if they cave to Donald Trump. This starts with one simple principle – if you want to sell here, you must build here.”

April 3 is the first anniversary of the 25% tariffs on Canadian made vehicles. Since then, Stellantis paused the retooling of the Brampton Assembly Plant, General Motors idled the CAMI Assembly Plant in Ingersoll and cut the third shift at Oshawa Assembly, auto parts maker Autoneum announced the closure of its London facility and TitanTool & Die locked out workers more than seven months ago as it prepares to move parts production to the U.S.

Over the past year, the U.S. launched a wave of tariffs on Canadian industries, including auto, heavy duty trucks, aluminum, steel, energy, copper and forestry, while continuing to threaten other sectors including aerospace, media, industrial equipment, and others. Though some measures were struck down, the most damaging sectoral tariffs remain in place, continuing to threaten Canadian workers and reliant communities.

Unifor’s Sell Here, Build Here message is being delivered directly to the public through social media graphics and coming billboards calling on companies that profit from the Canadian market to invest and build here or risk penalties, including tariffs, and loss of Canadian customers.

While the government continues negotiations with an increasingly erratic and unpredictable administration in Washington D.C., Unifor maintains that Canada must act decisively to defend jobs and strengthen our industrial base. Last week, Payne led a delegation of Unifor leadership and members to Parliament Hill to press MPs from all parties for concrete action to protect workers and domestic production including:

  • Strengthening Buy Canadian rules for public procurement
  • Require companies selling in Canada to invest in Canadian industry
  • Increase financial support for workers in trade-exposed industries
  • Use all available tools to stop job offshoring
  • Impose steep financial and market access penalties on companies that move jobs out of Canada

Read Unifor’s comprehensive list of proposed policy measures here.

“Canadian workers have shown incredible resiliency and solidarity throughout this unprecedented trade war. The fight to defend Canadian jobs and strengthen Canada’s industrial future is far from over, and Unifor will continue to lead that fight,” said Payne.

The ‘Sell Here, Build Here’ movement is part of Unifor’s flagship national mobilization initiative ‘Protect Canadian Jobs’. Visit protectjobs.ca for the latest on U.S. tariffs and how workers and communities can take action to support Canadian jobs and industry.

Unifor is Canada’s largest union in the private sector, representing 320,000 workers in every major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad, and strives to create progressive change for a better future. 

SOURCE Unifor

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