Same thing the Japanese did. Reagan tariffed them, so they built plants in the U.S.
Parts coming in would be tariffed, but not the finished cars.
The Tarriff Hype.
- Thread starter petros
- Start date
Parts coming in would be tariffed, but not the finished cars.
At that time JA Pan &sons were mostly making econoboxes that NA manufacturers couldn't, and still can't compete with. Either on quality or price. European vehicles are mainly high end, and much lower volume. The way Trump changes his tariff rules, I'm not sure Mercedes,BMW, Fiat and all would want to take the chance on building factories in the US.
They may be able to do an end run around the tariffs by putting 1000km on the clock and selling them as used. This has worked at times with equipment.
Some foreign-owned companies still qualify under 'Buy Canadian' policy: Report
Definition of Canadian so broad it would apply to corporations with storefront branches here, report says
Author of the article
ostmedia News
Published May 04, 2026 • 2 minute read
Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Prime Minister Mark Carney. Photo by Hyungcheol Park /Postmedia Network
So much for “buy Canadian” as a federal government policy.
The Department of Public Works said some companies that are 100% foreign owned still qualify as “Canadian” under Prime Minister Mark Carney’s “Buy Canadian” policy, according to Blacklock’s Reporter .
Records show the definition of Canadian is so broad it would apply to foreign-owned corporations with storefront branches here like the Bank of China.
“The policy does not establish a share ownership threshold,” the department wrote in a report to the Senate national finance committee.
“The policy does, however, outline specific criteria for determining whether a company qualifies as a Canadian supplier.”
Senators question Buy Canadian policy
The report said only a street address, one employee and a GST number are required to be “Canadian.
“‘Canadian supplier’ means a supplier that has a place of business in Canada where it conducts activities on a permanent basis that is clearly identified by name and is accessible during normal business hours,” said the report.
The department further said: “The supplier has to meet the following criteria: It is registered and files taxes in Canada, it maintains a registered address in Canada and employs personnel or conducts day-to-day business activities in Canada and it will not subcontract work to non-Canadian suppliers or individuals located outside Canada in a manner that results in minimal value-added activities being performed within Canada.”
The report was tabled in reply to an April 15 hearing of the national finance committee after senators questioned the policy announced by Carney last September on a promise to “build Canada strong.”
Share ownership ratio unclear
Dominic Laporte, senior assistant deputy public works minister, testified the policy had specific rules that decided which federal contractors were Canadian.
“The Buy Canadian policy has a very clear definition of Canadian suppliers,” he said. “We want to ensure, for example, there is a permanent establishment in Canada that is paying and filing taxes in Canada.”
“What about share ownership?” asked Sen. Joan MacAdam. “Do you have percentages? 50%?”
“Yes, we do have a rule for share ownership,” replied Laporte. “I would have to get back to you on that.”
Turns out the policy does not require any minimum Canadian ownership of a company to qualify as “Canadian.”
“If we were to do an analysis of where the shareholders and headquarters are located, that would make procurement complex,” testified Laporte.
“We have to be mindful that we have a lot of Canadian companies that are doing good business with other foreign jurisdictions. We need to be mindful of that, some consequences, if we were to really look at that ownership and take a strong position on ownership.”
torontosun.com
Definition of Canadian so broad it would apply to corporations with storefront branches here, report says
Author of the article
ostmedia NewsPublished May 04, 2026 • 2 minute read
Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Prime Minister Mark Carney. Photo by Hyungcheol Park /Postmedia Network
So much for “buy Canadian” as a federal government policy.
The Department of Public Works said some companies that are 100% foreign owned still qualify as “Canadian” under Prime Minister Mark Carney’s “Buy Canadian” policy, according to Blacklock’s Reporter .
Records show the definition of Canadian is so broad it would apply to foreign-owned corporations with storefront branches here like the Bank of China.
“The policy does not establish a share ownership threshold,” the department wrote in a report to the Senate national finance committee.
“The policy does, however, outline specific criteria for determining whether a company qualifies as a Canadian supplier.”
Senators question Buy Canadian policy
The report said only a street address, one employee and a GST number are required to be “Canadian.
“‘Canadian supplier’ means a supplier that has a place of business in Canada where it conducts activities on a permanent basis that is clearly identified by name and is accessible during normal business hours,” said the report.
The department further said: “The supplier has to meet the following criteria: It is registered and files taxes in Canada, it maintains a registered address in Canada and employs personnel or conducts day-to-day business activities in Canada and it will not subcontract work to non-Canadian suppliers or individuals located outside Canada in a manner that results in minimal value-added activities being performed within Canada.”
The report was tabled in reply to an April 15 hearing of the national finance committee after senators questioned the policy announced by Carney last September on a promise to “build Canada strong.”
Share ownership ratio unclear
Dominic Laporte, senior assistant deputy public works minister, testified the policy had specific rules that decided which federal contractors were Canadian.
“The Buy Canadian policy has a very clear definition of Canadian suppliers,” he said. “We want to ensure, for example, there is a permanent establishment in Canada that is paying and filing taxes in Canada.”
“What about share ownership?” asked Sen. Joan MacAdam. “Do you have percentages? 50%?”
“Yes, we do have a rule for share ownership,” replied Laporte. “I would have to get back to you on that.”
Turns out the policy does not require any minimum Canadian ownership of a company to qualify as “Canadian.”
“If we were to do an analysis of where the shareholders and headquarters are located, that would make procurement complex,” testified Laporte.
“We have to be mindful that we have a lot of Canadian companies that are doing good business with other foreign jurisdictions. We need to be mindful of that, some consequences, if we were to really look at that ownership and take a strong position on ownership.”
Some foreign-owned companies still qualify under 'Buy Canadian' policy: Report
Records show the definition of Canadian is so broad it would apply to foreign-owned corporations with storefront branches here. Read more.
Tariffs on Canadian, Mexican cars cost U.S. automakers $12.5-billion last year — The Globe and Mail
Levies amount to US$1,600 per vehicle, a Michigan-based consultancy says in a new report
Under USMCA and its predecessor NAFTA, there had been more than three decades of tariff-free trade in autos and auto parts between the three nations until Trump last year imposed a 25% duty on global automotive imports on national security grounds under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962.
Since then, Trump has cut deals for 15% tariffs on automotive imports from Japan, the European Union and South Korea and 10% tariffs from Britain, making it cheaper to ship some cars from these countries to the U.S. than from Mexico.
Auto groups urge Trump to extend trade deal with Mexico, Canada — Reuters
Major auto trade groups on Thursday urged the Trump administration to extend a free trade deal with Mexico and Canada, saying it was crucial for U.S. vehicle production as North America faces competition from Asia and Europe.
Meanwhile, Trump also said on Thursday he would give the European Union until 4 July to implement trade deal commitments before he raises tariffs on EU goods including cars to “much higher levels”. In a surprise move, Trump last Friday announced that he would raise tariffs on EU vehicles to 25% from the previously agreed 15% because the EU was not complying with the terms of a deal struck in Scotland last July.
US trade court rules against Trump’s 10% global tariffs — Guardian US
Trump also issues new deadline for EU to implement trade deal terms before raising tariffs to ‘much higher levels’