Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter’s Statement on U.S. Imposed Tariffs on Canadian Goods

Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter has released the following statement in response to the United States imposing a 25% tariff on a number of Canadian goods:

Through Oshawa’s history, our great city has always risen to the occasion, even in divisive times. Now, we must unite to face new challenges and opportunities to further diversify and strengthen our economy.

Let’s focus on the facts. Canada is an exceptional place to do business. Our resilient economy, low tax environment and highly educated and competitive workforce make Canada and our city a prime destination for investment. Our community continues to attract major new investments as an ideal location for companies and their employees.

Despite our unique strengths and accomplishments as both a community and nation, we will still face significant challenges related to the new tariffs. As your Mayor, I am committed to addressing these issues and to sharing updates. The following measures are underway and continue to evolve:

• With support of the City’s Business and Economic Development Services team, I am continuing to meet with local businesses to understand their unique challenges and impacts on operations, suppliers and customers. Businesses are encouraged to request a site visit by completing our online form.
• Policy makers have identified interprovincial trade barriers as an area for reform that could significantly boost the economy. We look forward to advocating for those changes and the opportunities they could bring for Oshawa companies to access new domestic markets.
• I continue to advocate for our city’s interests through the Ontario’s Big City Mayors (OBCM) tariff working group, influencing policy and program decisions. Through policy development, advocacy, discussion and partnerships, we continue to support a strong and resilient city.
• While the United States has announced a 30 day exemption on auto vehicle tariffs for vehicles that comply with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement’s rules of origin, the City of Oshawa stands as a proud member of the Ontario Auto Mayors’ Caucus, collaborating at provincial and federal levels to promote awareness, advocacy and strategic policy initiatives that strengthen the Canadian economy through automotive sector advancements and investments. The Ontario Auto Mayors advocate for government incentives to ensure Canada remains competitive with other auto jurisdictions.
• Through our dedicated Tariffs webpage (Oshawa.ca/tariffs), we provide resources to help you better understand the situation and prepare for its impact.

Oshawa’s spirit has always been one of generosity, resilience, kindness and compassion. Our city will continue this spirit with commitments to many infrastructure projects and public investments across our community in the coming years, and by committing to supporting our local businesses.