The IAM Union, which represents workers across diverse sectors such as aerospace, air transportation, healthcare, mining, automotive, hospitality, and more, was proud to be at the Canada-U.S. Economic Summit in Toronto on February 7. The summit, hosted by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, took place shortly after President Donald Trump revealed a temporary pause on his tariff threats against Canada. The event gathered Canadian business leaders, trade representatives, and organized labour to discuss important strategies for boosting the economy, eliminating internal trade barriers, and diversifying Canada’s export markets.

The IAM Union stands firmly with Canadian workers, and our presence at this summit showcases our commitment to ensuring that our voices are heard when it comes to critical issues affecting our industries, communities and workers. For too long, Canada’s natural resources, our skilled workforce, and our positive relations with trade partners have been used against us, especially as the looming threat of tariffs continues to disrupt our economy.

The message from this summit was clear: Canada can no longer afford to be vulnerable to these unpredictable tariff threats. We are a country rich in resources, minerals, and talent. It’s time to look beyond our borders, develop new markets, and form trade agreements with countries that value fair trade over political leverage. Canada’s good nature should never again be mistaken for weakness. The IAM Union believes that by developing stronger international relationships and seeking fairer agreements, we can avoid future economic risks while continuing to strengthen our nation’s prosperity.

In response to the potential economic challenges, the summit highlighted a crucial point: this is a time for unity.

The ongoing trade tensions have brought Canadians closer together, regardless of sector or industry. Workers, businesses, and government must come together to protect good Canadian jobs and secure the future of our economy. This collaboration between labour, business, and government is not just essential but urgent. Without it, we risk losing the economic gains and opportunities that are fundamental to the growth of Canada.

The future of Canada depends on the cooperation between government, business, and the working people of this country. Together, we can face any challenge that comes our way and ensure that Canada remains a prosperous, fair, and thriving nation.

To cut it short, the brief timeline includes these key facts: On February 1, Trump imposes a 25% tariff on Canadian imports, sparking chaos across industries. Then, just two days later, on February 3, he decides to pause the tariffs for 30 days. What’s this game? Let’s dive deeper.

Just three days after threatening to start a trade war, U.S. President Donald Trump agreed to pause tariffs on Canadian imports for at least 30 days, as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced earlier on his X account. While this temporary delay may offer a brief delay, it begs the question: “How long will workers on both sides of the border continue to suffer as pawns in these political games” asks David Chartrand, IAM Union Canada, General Vice-President.

The reality is, for many families, the consequences of trade disruptions are not just theoretical. They are deeply personal. Workers in both the U.S. and Canada, many of whom are already struggling to make ends meet, face uncertainty and anxiety every time tariffs are threatened or imposed. These decisions, made by politicians in negotiations over issues like fentanyl smuggling and border security, can lead to job losses, higher costs of goods, and economic instability. And it’s these workers, the backbone of industries across both nations, who pay the price.

While the 30-day pause might seem like a win, it is ultimately a temporary solution that does little to address the ongoing strain that families face. These workers have become pawns in a larger political game, caught between leaders making deals with little regard for the human cost. They didn’t ask for this instability. They didn’t sign up to have their livelihoods threatened as part of negotiations.

How long can workers and their families endure this uncertainty? Every time Trump threatens tariffs, it is the people who rely on cross-border trade for their jobs that are left in uncertainty. This temporary pause may offer a break for now, but what workers really need is long-term stability and assurance that they won’t continue to be treated as leverage in a game that doesn’t consider their daily struggles.

As this political and economical game plays out, it is essential that we ask: When will we stop using workers as bargaining chips? They deserve more than a quick fix. They deserve security and a future that isn’t at the mercy of trade tensions.

It’s time we demand more stability for those who depend on the trade that fuels their livelihoods.

Brian Bryant, International President of the 600,000-member IAM Union, and David Chartrand, IAM Canadian General Vice President, issued the following statement following a pause of proposed U.S.-Canadian tariffs.

“As the largest aerospace and defense labor union in the United States and Canada, the IAM Union is relieved that destructive tariffs between our two allied countries are being paused. A new path forward—one that doesn’t put U.S. and Canadian workers in a needless cycle of worrying about job loss due to tariff threats between allies—is possible. This moment offers the perfect opportunity for workers and unions from both countries to be a part of the solution moving forward.

“For decades, we have seen millions of good-paying, high-skilled U.S. and Canadian jobs outsourced to countries with little to no labor rights. Thanks to bad trade deals, tens of thousands of good IAM Union aerospace and defense jobs have become low-wage jobs in Mexico, while China has used forced technology offsets to create its own aerospace industry. This race-to-the-bottom model is being replicated by other bad actors across the globe – and it’s hurting all workers, as well as our shared national security.

“We have a chance right now to pull all stakeholders – government, business and labor – together to forge a real, comprehensive strategy to protect and grow critical manufacturing here in the United States and Canada. Workers on the both sides of the border deserve to drive policy conversations about their livelihoods, not be pawns in a larger political discussion.”

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is one of North America’s largest and most diverse industrial trade unions, representing approximately 600,000 active and retired members in the aerospace, defense, airlines, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries across the United States and Canada.