UAW President Shawn Fain on U.S. Trade Escalation with Canada

The UAW rejects any escalation on Canada, a country with strong unions and labor standards. If we’re going to increase tariffs anywhere, it should be on countries where automakers continue to offshore jobs because they can pay workers $3 an hour, force them to work in unsafe conditions, and crack down on independent unions.

Here at the UAW, we are fighting to end the free trade disaster. Free trade pits workers against each other across borders and is fueled by corporate greed. That’s why we will always support strategic tariffs, including the 232 tariffs on auto and heavy truck. Tariffs work, but only if they are deployed intentionally to protect workers and grow our manufacturing communities.

It’s time to permanently end offshoring and the race to the bottom. We need well-designed tariffs, and a comprehensive rewrite of the USMCA and other bad trade deals.