Auto manufacturers in southwestern Ontario warn of ‘catastrophic’ impacts from Trump tariffs [Video]

Auto parts manufacturers in southwestern Ontario say punitive tariffs imposed by the American government could bring automotive production to a halt by the end of this week and will have devastating impacts on the overall supply chain. 

On Saturday, U.S. President Donald Trump launched a trade war by imposing 25 per cent tariffs on most Canadian goods and 10 per cent tariff on Canadian energy products. 

The levies, slated to take effect on Tuesday, will leave tens of thousands of workers on both sides of the border jobless, said Mike Van Boekel, union representative at the General Motors CAMI plant in Ingersoll, Ont. 

“It’ll be up to the companies, but I could see pretty well every auto plant potentially closing in Canada within a week,” said Van Boekel, whose Unifor Local 88 represents approximately 1,200 auto workers. 

“We supply a lot of big factories with auto parts, and if they …