In Canadapeople who want to buy cars They are trying to prevent increases in the prices of a trade war, as Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government is preparing to counteract the last storm of duties from the White House.
US President Donald Trump is set to present a new round of duties in Washington later today (2.4.2025), followed by duties on automotive products, which are expected to enter into force Thursday (3.4.2025). Canada has already imposed reciprocal duties on a range of US products, but so far it has not touched one of the largest categories – American cars.
The Canadian government has previously threatened that it may impose 25% duties on cars and lightly American -made trucks if Trump escalates his commercial actions. Carney has not yet said what the government will do, but he made it clear yesterday (1.4.2025) that some form of retaliation will happen: “We will not put the Canadian producers and Canadian workers disadvantaged in terms of US workers.”
Canadian duties on US vehicles would have a major impact. The country is by far the largest export market for US car factories, taking 628,743 US vehicles – more than $ 23 billion worth of more than $ 23 billion, according to data from the US Department of Commerce.
In the batches of some traders in Canada, most of the stock is American, including top salespeople, such as the Ford Motor Co. Pickup F-15s. Canadian buyers are alert for the risk of higher prices, forcing car traders such as Michael Carmichael to change their strategies.
Two weeks ago, he threw prices on his six car dealerships in the southwestern Ontario, believing that he had to clear stocks as the impact of a trade war began to appear. Now changed course. New sales increased sharply, so it increased by about 3%.
Canadian consumers bought 185,000 cars and light trucks last month, according to Desrosiers Automotive Consultants estimates, the best of March since 2018.
Trump has made a series of specific threats against the Canadian automotive sector – “We don’t need their cars,” he said. His plan to implement the so -called mutual duties this week, as well as duties specifically for the automotive sector, is a huge change for vehicle manufacturers, who have enjoyed the exchange without duties or low duties at the Canada border for decades.