Carney Draws Red Line On Trump Trade Deal Over Auto Jobs

Resumen detallado

Carney rules out a US trade deal threatening Canadian automotive jobs as Ottawa fights Stellantis factory sale.

Speaking at a press conference in Manila on Saturday ahead of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, Carney said protecting Canadian manufacturing jobs remained a fundamental condition of any agreement with Washington.

"This government will not settle for a deal with the United States that is not consistent with a viable Canadian auto sector," he told reporters.

His warning comes amid an escalating dispute with multinational automotive manufacturing corporation Stellantis, which has agreed to sell its Brampton assembly plant in Ontario to Canadian armoured-vehicle manufacturer Roshel.

The automaker abandoned plans to manufacture the Jeep Compass at the facility and subsequently announced that production would move to Illinois, leaving more than 2,000 Canadian workers laid off amid Trump's trade war.

Carney said the future of the auto industry remained one of the most difficult issues in negotiations with Washington, although progress was being made. "We're making progress. We're not there yet," he said.

The Canadian government has given Stellantis 30 days to address alleged breaches of a funding agreement or face potential legal action to recover hundreds of millions of dollars.

Ottawa committed up to C$529 million ($370.6 million) in 2022 to help the company retool its Brampton and Windsor plants for electrified vehicle production.

Canadian Industry Minister Mélanie Joly accused Stellantis of failing to honour its commitments after the company abandoned planned production at Brampton without identifying a replacement vehicle.

She said: "When it comes to Stellantis, our position is clear: they cannot close the plant."

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