Power & Politics U.S. reveals an even bigger list of Canada trade complaints
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Apr 1, 2026 Lana Payne, national president of Unifor and an advocate for auto sector jobs and Canadian industrial policy. She discusses reports about Stellantis potentially assembling Chinese EVs in Brampton and warns partial knockdown-kit assembly would create few jobs. Payne urges enforcement of manufacturing commitments, calls for stronger Canadian auto policy and highlights Buy Canadian and U.S. trade grievances.
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USTR Expands List To New Issues Ahead Of Kuzma Review
- The U.S. Trade Representative added new Canadian irritants like drug pricing, Buy Canadian rules, and forced labour enforcement to its annual list.
- The timing comes as Kuzma (CUSMA) review nears and amid ongoing U.S. tariffs on Canadian vehicles introduced by the Trump administration.
Stellantis Talks Could Mean Kit Assembly Not Real Manufacturing
- Unifor president Lana Payne described Stellantis conversations about using Brampton to assemble Chinese EV kits instead of full manufacturing.
- Payne said knockdown kits mean hundreds of jobs versus the thousands promised by building a Jeep Compass in Brampton.
Design Auto Policy To Reward Real Canadian Manufacturing
- Pay attention to shaping an auto policy that rewards companies who actually manufacture in Canada.
- Lana Payne urged giving preferential treatment and incentives to firms with real Canadian footprints like Stellantis, Ford, GM, Honda and Toyota.