“Canada – USA Tariff Wars”

The biggest surprise about Stellantis’s decision to move production of its Jeep Compass model to Illinois from Brampton and put 3,000 Canadian jobs in limbo is not that it happened but the level of shock among Canadian leaders that it did.

From Ottawa to Queen’s Park to the mayor’s chambers in Brampton, the gasps of apparent disbelief, hurt and betrayal were breathtakingly naive.

Melanie Joly on Stellantis "And the company has commitments under different types of agreements with the government, including the fact that we provided support for the retooling of the very Brampton facility that right now is sitting idle." ‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/jRLUBX9mYo

— cbcwatcher (@cbcwatcher) October 15, 2025

High-level trade talks between Canadian and U.S. officials are trudging on this week in Washington, D.C., where Canada is looking to strike deals on specific economic sectors currently bedeviling trade relations between the two countries.

Dominic LeBlanc, the minister of Canada-U.S. Trade, Privy Council Clerk Michael Sabia and other officials are specifically focused in the short term on securing deals for the steel, aluminum and energy sectors.

Canada’s automotive heartland is reeling a day after Stellantis delivered a blow to hopes it will restart its assembly plant in Brampton.

”I am very concerned, very concerned for the future of the auto industry in Ontario,” said Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Stellantis announced a $13-billion U.S. manufacturing expansion, and is moving production of its popular Jeep Compass from Brampton to Illinois.

The Government of Canada is threatening to sue automaker Stellantis NV over its move to shift production of the Jeep Compass to Illinois from Brampton, Ont.

Industry Minister Mélanie Joly issued the warning in a letter to Antonio Filosa, chief executive officer of Stellantis, which on Tuesday unveiled a US$13-billion plan to boost auto production in the United States by 50 per cent over four years.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling on Stellantis to “live up to their promise” to Brampton workers after the automaker was reported to be moving production slated for an assembly plant to Illinois.

In a statement, Ford says he has spoken with Stellantis to stress his “disappointment with their decision to prioritize investment into the U.S.”

If I were Ford I would be calling Trump bad names and stuff.

Stellantis announced Tuesday it will invest $13 billion US over the next four years to expand its manufacturing capacity in the U.S. — a move that will take production of one model out of Ontario, raising concern about Canadian jobs.

The company, formerly known as Chrysler, says the Jeep Compass, previously slated to be made at the Brampton Assembly Plant, will move to the Belvidere Assembly Plant in Illinois.

… The Brampton, Ont., plant has been shut down since early 2024 for retooling to build the next generation model of the vehicle, but that work was halted in February as a tariff threat loomed.

It sucks for Brampton’s employees but we can only expect more of the same as assembly heads back to the US. 

If Carney throws up his hands and lifts the China EV tariffs thus saving canola farmers he may win some friends in the west.

Given Canada’s auto industry is going to be gutted no matter what China may be Carney’s preferred choice.

However my guess is the US will retaliate against Canada in other economic segments for what will be perceived as Carney’s ChiCom appeasement.

Meanwhile Carney served up the Usual slop for his Elbow people.

Canada’s new government will always be there for Canadian auto workers.

My statement on Stellantis’ production plans: pic.twitter.com/3NC8PI3ULp

— Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) October 15, 2025

PS – can anyone confirm that the Jeep Compass model moved to the US was the EV version? Oh the Ironing!

h/t Hermes