Ford Canada Skips Tariffs in Unifor Talks, Focuses on Jobs and Operations

Ford Canada has confirmed it will not raise tariffs as a topic during upcoming negotiations with Canadian trade union Unifor, instead prioritizing the retention of its domestic manufacturing footprint and fair worker compensation. A Ford Canada spokesperson stated that tariffs “really doesn’t impact how we approach our negotiations,” emphasizing that the company is seeking a fair agreement that values employees while securing operational flexibility. The talks, scheduled for July, will involve Ford, which represents approximately 5,000 unionized workers in Canada. Ford was chosen for negotiations due to its longstanding relationship with Unifor, a union that historically collaborates with Ford to set bargaining precedents for all three Detroit automakers. The move comes as Ford remains the sole major automaker maintaining full manufacturing operations in Canada amid rising tariffs introduced in Spring 2025. Competitors Stellantis and GM have taken different approaches: Stellantis is retooling its Brampton Assembly plant and relocating operations to the U.S. to bypass tariffs, while GM idled its CAMI assembly plant after ending production of BrightDrop vans and reduced shifts at Oshawa Assembly in January. Unifor President Lana Payne framed the negotiations as high-stakes, citing the chilling effect of U.S. tariffs and trade aggression on investment and employment. “The stakes are incredibly high and we need to take the most disciplined, strategic approach possible,” Payne said. “We’re dealing with U.S. tariffs and unrelenting trade aggression. This uncertainty is freezing investment decisions and keeping members out of work.”