Title: Canadian Auto Industry Cautious Ahead of Carney-Trump Meeting

OTTAWA — The Canadian auto industry is managing its expectations ahead of a significant meeting between Prime Minister Mark Carney and U.S. President Donald Trump scheduled for Tuesday. Industry representatives are particularly concerned due to the impact of steep U.S. tariffs, which have heavily affected their operations. They are hoping for positive developments but are not anticipating major breakthroughs.

Brian Kingston, president of the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association, expressed skepticism about the meeting's potential outcomes. He stated, "I don’t expect that we’re going to see an agreement that removes all tariffs on automotive." Kingston emphasized the urgency of the situation, noting that the tariffs are causing substantial harm to the industry. He added, "This is unsustainable and it is ultimately doing severe damage to the North American auto sector. So we need agreement and we need it now."

In a related development, Trump announced on social media that a new 25 percent tariff on medium and heavy-duty truck imports will take effect on November 1. This announcement came shortly after a White House press briefing.

Flavio Volpe, president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association, expressed hope for positive outcomes from the discussions. He remarked, "It’s good, especially with this president, to have (those) face to face. I’m happy that Team Canada is going down there. We were there last week. I didn’t really hear a lot of urgency from American voices on Canadian interests, so hopefully this refreshes a lot of their minds on just how close we’re integrated."

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that trade will be a key topic during the meeting. However, concerns have been raised about the effectiveness of the discussions. Marty Warren, national director of the United Steelworkers union, warned that the meeting might yield only a “half-measure” that Carney could present as a success. He stated, "If Carney is just going down for another visit and doesn’t come home with something tangible, I think it was a mistake on his part to go even to visit."

Warren highlighted the heightened expectations surrounding the meeting, noting that various sectors, including steel, softwood lumber, and aluminum, are looking for concrete results. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre also expressed his concerns, stating he does not want to see Carney travel to Washington, D.C., "just to go for lunch."

Poilievre had previously offered Carney support in a letter before the meetings, but he remains critical of the potential outcomes. The auto industry and its stakeholders are closely watching the developments from this high-profile meeting, hoping for a resolution to ongoing trade challenges.