Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME) issued a call to action today, Jan. 15, urging Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and federal party leaders to take immediate steps to protect Canada’s manufacturing sector from the looming threat of U.S. tariffs. In an open letter sent to government leaders, CME president and CEO Dennis Darby warned that tariffs imposed by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump would severely harm Canada’s manufacturing industry, which supports over 25 per cent of Canadian jobs when facatoring in broader economic impacts and accounts for more than 60 per cent of the country’s merchandise exports. In his letter, Darby wrote, that “the imminent threat of sweeping U.S. tariffs poses a significant and immediate risk to this critical sector, jeopardizing thousands of businesses and jobs. This threat is on top of long-standing challenges facing our economy – chronic productivity issues, skills shortages, and an uncompetitive tax and regulatory environment – that have already weakened investment and growth.” Darby emphasized that without swift government intervention, the tariffs could lead to devastating consequences for thousands of businesses and workers, disrupting supply chains and stalling investment in the sector. The group is calling for short-term relief measures, including tariff exemptions, investment incentives and supply chain support. “The imposition of U.S. tariffs will trigger a significant economic shock,” Darby wrote. “Revenues lost while tariffs are applied are not recovered, so the duration of the disruption is critical. Canada must act decisively to stabilize businesses, protect jobs, and preserve our manufacturing footprint.” In addition to immediate relief, CME advocates for long-term structural reforms to bolster Canada’s competitiveness. This includes addressing internal trade barriers and modernizing the country’s regulatory and tax frameworks.