'A lot of culprits' are driving GM out of Oshawa — but Trump's tariffs haven't helped

November 27, 2018

'If you build it in the U.S. and sell it in the U.S., you don't have to meet any rules of origin'

The new North American trade agreement — the one that was supposed to be key to the future of Canada's automotive sector — didn't even make it to its signing ceremony before General Motors announced it soon will stop assembling cars in Oshawa, Ont.

"The car industry now has stability and room to grow and thrive," Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland wrote in an op-ed published just last month, describing what she called the "well-balanced outcome" of Canada's trade negotiations with Washington.

Things don't feel very stable or thriving for people living in Oshawa right now. And it doesn't look like the federal or provincial governments are prepared to put significant cash on the table to change GM's mind this time.

Can these lost Canadian jobs be blamed on trade upheaval? Not entirely — but American protectionism did play a role...

This was excerpted from the 27 November 2018 edition of CBC News.

Topic(s)

Trade Agreements

International Trade and Border Management

Information source

Canadian News Channel

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