U.S. President Donald Trump's three-day pause on the latest tariffs against Canada is cold comfort for those in the auto industry.
Trump agreed to pause 50 per cent tariffs on $20-billion worth of Canadian products until Friday while talks between American and Canadian trade officials continue.
Months of uncertainty, on-and-off tariffs, and the possibility of reviewing the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Trade Agreement on an annual basis are wearing thin.
Unifor Local 200 President John D'Agnolo says the auto industry has already seen delays in investment and layoffs as the future remains unclear, and it's wearing thin.
Unifor Local 200 represents Ford workers in Windsor at the Windsor Annex and the Essex Engine Plant.
"I'm in the middle of bargaining right now with the Detroit 3, and just knowing the impacts it's going to have when these decisions are made, and the livelihoods of these communities throughout Ontario and Canada, you know, it's scary," said D'Agnolo.
Unifor continues to call for no tariffs on the auto industry, but trade officials have been warning the public for weeks that's unlikely.
"I don't know if it's realistic or not," admitted D'Agnolo. "Understanding where our industries feel they're comfortable [with tariffs] would be important."
Unifor National President Lana Payne is a member of the Advisory Committee on Canada U.S. Economic Relations, which the federal government assembled early on in the trade war to collect feedback from different sectors impacted by tariffs.
D'Agnolo also admits he feels pins and needles whenever he stops to think about the current environment. Even if Canada and the U.S. agree on the terms of a trade agreement, he's not alone in fearing the U.S. President could simply tear the deal up if it suits him.
"No matter what you do, you have to worry about that," he said. "I don't think anyone knows, to be quite frank with you, including the Republican Party."
