Canada’s trade playbook is in tatters, and Brampton’s seizing the chance to rewrite its own rules as U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs ignite a cross-border showdown.
Mayor Patrick Brown isn’t mincing words: with Trump’s 25% blanket tariffs slamming Canadian goods as of Tuesday, Brampton’s done playing by the old North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) handbook. “We’re here to safeguard Brampton’s interests,” Brown said, unveiling a bold shift Monday that bans American firms from city procurement deals and explores ways to ditch existing U.S. contracts.
Trump’s move threatens Brampton’s economic backbone—think auto parts, steel, aluminum, and poultry—prompting Brown to declare that the city, and Canada at large, must push back to shield jobs and businesses. “This hits us hard, but we’re not sitting still,” he stressed.
Under NAFTA, U.S. companies could vie for Brampton’s procurement cash, a $1.9-billion pot that fueled everything from gear to consulting to construction. Now, Brown says that pact’s “ripped apart” by Trump’s actions, freeing the city to pivot. “The old rules gave American firms a shot at our contracts,” he explained. “If that framework’s trashed, we’ve got every right to rewrite our policy. I’d love to see our trade deal respected again, but today’s message is clear: U.S. products face fallout if these tariffs stick.”
The new plan locks American companies out of Brampton’s bidding process—only Canadian-based operations need apply. Firms producing in Canada, even if U.S.-owned, dodge the cut. Meanwhile, the city’s digging into legal options to unravel ongoing American deals, betting local companies can step up with prices that won’t bust the budget.