As Prime Minister Mark Carney prepares to meet U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday, Canada’s auto and manufacturing industries are urging caution and tempering their expectations for an immediate breakthrough on crippling U.S. tariffs.
Representatives from the Canadian auto sector, one of the industries hardest hit by recent American trade measures, say they are looking for positive signs from the meeting but are not expecting a sweeping agreement to lift tariffs. The meeting comes as Canadian steelworkers and manufacturers warn it would be a serious political misstep if Carney returns home without tangible progress.
Brian Kingston, president of the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association, emphasized that while the meeting is an important step, it is likely just one part of a longer negotiation process.
“I don’t expect that we’re going to see an agreement that removes all tariffs on automotive,” Kingston said. “This is unsustainable and it is ultimately doing severe damage to the North American auto sector. We need agreement and we need it now.”
Flavio Volpe, president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association, expressed cautious optimism about the face-to-face dialogue.
“It’s good, especially with this president, to have those face-to-face meetings,” Volpe said. “I’m happy that Team Canada is going down there. We were there last week and didn’t really hear a lot of urgency from American voices on Canadian interests, so hopefully this refreshes their minds on just how close we’re integrated.”
Lucas Malinowski, vice president of Global Automakers of Canada, said the industry will be watching closely for signals that President Trump remains committed to renewing the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).
“Having some clarity on the ongoing durability of that agreement will be critical to give certainty to the auto industry,” he said.
The steel sector is also watching closely. Marty Warren, national director of the United Steelworkers union, warned against half-measures, saying Carney cannot afford to return to Canada without meaningful results for steel, aluminum, and softwood lumber sectors.
“He’s raised a lot of expectations, and there’s a lot of people who feel if he’s going down, he should be coming home with something,” Warren said.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre pressed the government in Question Period, warning that failing to secure progress would be politically damaging. Poilievre wrote to the prime minister offering his party’s support to help “negotiate a win” on tariffs, while challenging the government to deliver results beyond “just a lunch in Washington.”
Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc defended the meeting, saying Ottawa has consistently stated it has “work to do with our American partners on sectoral tariffs,” and dismissed the idea of refusing an invitation from the U.S. president.
The talks come just one day after President Trump announced new 25 per cent tariffs on medium and heavy-duty truck imports, effective November 1 — a move primarily aimed at Mexico but expected to have ripple effects on Canadian manufacturers as well.
Trade experts say the Canadian market for heavy-duty trucks is relatively small compared to autos, lumber, and steel, but note the new tariffs could impact Canadian companies with operations in Mexico.
As both governments head into Tuesday’s high-stakes meeting, industry leaders, workers, and political observers are watching closely. While no major breakthrough is expected, Canadian sectors are hoping for clear signals of renewed cooperation, concrete progress on tariff relief, and assurances about the stability of North American trade agreements going forward.