Canadian International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu has called on the United States to join forces in addressing mounting pressures on the deeply integrated North American auto industry, arguing that workers on both sides of the border are confronting the same economic headwinds. The appeal was made during bilateral talks with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on the sidelines of the G20 Trade Ministers' Meeting in Milwaukee on 1 October 2026.

The Case for Joint Action

Sidhu made the argument for cooperation personal, pointing to job losses he had witnessed first-hand. He told reporters that he had met auto workers in Milwaukee who had recently been laid off — a situation he said mirrored conditions in his own constituency, which includes operations of automaker Stellantis, where hundreds of workers have also faced layoffs.

'I came across some workers here in Milwaukee that were laid off in the auto sector,' Sidhu said. 'And I represent the constituency of where we have Stellantis, hundreds of folks laid off in the auto sector.'

The minister drew a direct line between these parallel experiences: 'I strongly believe the auto sector is stronger when we're able to work together. You're facing some of the same challenges that we're facing. Let's help each other and let's work through something.'

Supply Chains at the Centre of G20 Talks

Sidhu's bilateral discussion with Greer took place as G20 trade ministers examined broader strains on global supply chains, with steel, food, energy pricing, inflation, and critical minerals all on the agenda. He described the Canada-US automotive supply chain as especially intertwined, with vehicles and components routinely crossing the border multiple times during the production cycle.

Notably, the two ministers are not strangers — Sidhu noted that he and Greer have a working relationship built through prior engagement at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and at G7 forums. 'I think there's an understanding,' Sidhu said, signalling a degree of diplomatic goodwill even as substantive differences remain.

Canada's Negotiating Red Lines

When asked about US tariffs, export restrictions, and the prospects for easing bilateral tensions, Sidhu declined to identify the specific sticking points in ongoing negotiations. He was, however, unambiguous about Ottawa's bottom line.

'At the end of the day, you want a good deal for your workers and industries, and Canada won't accept anything less than that,' Sidhu said. 'When you negotiate with Canada, it has to be mutually beneficial.'

He also drew a distinction between his own mandate — advancing Canada's international trade diversification and opening new markets globally — and the separate channel through which Canada's minister responsible for US relations is handling the bilateral file directly.

Why This Matters Beyond the Border

The North American automotive manufacturing system is among the most integrated in the world, with parts and assemblies crossing the Canada-US border dozens of times before a finished vehicle rolls off the line. Any sustained disruption — whether from tariffs, supply chain fractures, or trade policy uncertainty — ripples through manufacturing employment in both countries.

This comes amid a broader reconfiguration of global trade relationships, with the G20's Milwaukee meeting reflecting shared anxiety among major economies over supply chain fragility, energy costs, and inflation. Whether Canada and the United States can move from a shared diagnosis to a shared solution on autos is likely to depend on the pace of wider bilateral negotiations.