In Windsor, Ontario, a city renowned for its automotive manufacturing, locals voiced their fears regarding President Trump’s imposed tariffs on auto parts. Union representatives Pauline Ridley and Colleen Barrette echoed the sentiment shared by many when they described the potential outcome as creating a “ghost town” without the presence of auto parts manufacturers.
While much attention has been directed towards larger vehicle assembly plants, it is the vicinity of approximately 100 smaller auto parts manufacturers that currently employ around 9,000 people that bears significant concern. In stark comparison, only about 5,400 workers are employed at the city's three main auto factories.
For businesses like KB Components, where Ridley serves as union chairwoman, the situation is dire. Approximately 100 of the workforce at their three locations in Windsor have already been laid off, compensation routes are scarce for these small businesses, which are not fortified like their large counterparts against the economic fluctuations caused by the 25 percent tariffs on imported automobiles and parts.
With a primary role in supplying components for major brands such as Toyota, Ford, and newer electric vehicle producers Rivian and Lucid, the sustainability of these small manufacturers is under threat, as they navigate between market demands and rising costs linked to ongoing tariff tensions. Amidst this turmoil, the future of Windsor's economic landscape remains uncertain.
While much attention has been directed towards larger vehicle assembly plants, it is the vicinity of approximately 100 smaller auto parts manufacturers that currently employ around 9,000 people that bears significant concern. In stark comparison, only about 5,400 workers are employed at the city's three main auto factories.
For businesses like KB Components, where Ridley serves as union chairwoman, the situation is dire. Approximately 100 of the workforce at their three locations in Windsor have already been laid off, compensation routes are scarce for these small businesses, which are not fortified like their large counterparts against the economic fluctuations caused by the 25 percent tariffs on imported automobiles and parts.
With a primary role in supplying components for major brands such as Toyota, Ford, and newer electric vehicle producers Rivian and Lucid, the sustainability of these small manufacturers is under threat, as they navigate between market demands and rising costs linked to ongoing tariff tensions. Amidst this turmoil, the future of Windsor's economic landscape remains uncertain.
