in si de ha lto n. co m O ak vi lle B ea ve r | T hu rs da y, A ug us t 2, 20 18 | 18 Bringing communities together one game at a time. When making friends is the goal, everyone wins. With over 275,000 kids playing Timbits Soccer every season, Tim Hortons Restaurant Owners are proudly helping communities come together across Canada one game at a time. Timbits Soccer, where the first goal is having fun.TM ©Tim Hortons, 2018 Many in the auto sector are waiting to see if U.S. President Donald Trump makes good on his threat to hit the Canadian auto in- dustry with a 25 per cent tariff on the grounds Canadian-produced cars are a security threat to the United States. The real estate mogul and for- mer reality television star has al- ready announced tariffs on Cana- dian steel and aluminum entering the United States, which came in- to effect May 31. The Trump administration and Trump himself have accused Canada of "taking advantage" of the United States in areas of trade. The Canadian government, under Prime Minister Justin Tru- deau, has responded by imposing tariffs on 235 U.S. products. Lauren More, vice-president of communications at Ford Motor Company of Canada, talked about the importance of ending this trade dispute. "It's essential that govern- ments work together to lower, not raise, barriers to trade," she said. "Higher tariffs do not benefit our customers or our employees. Right now, Ford is focused on communicating to the U.S. gov- ernment the significant negative impact to the economy, with the goal of preventing these import tariffs." More said Ford also supports the Canadian, U.S. and Mexican governments working together to ensure a strong North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which she said is critically impor- tant to the competitiveness of the hemisphere. During a recent visit to Oak- ville, Conservative MP and for- eign affairs critic Erin O'Toole said the impact of the proposed tariff on Canadian-produced ve- hicles entering the United States would be particularly significant for the town, given the presence offor the town, given the presence off the Ford assembly plant in Oak- ville. "It could be devastating. No one wants to see that happen be- cause suddenly excellent, first- rate, world-class cars assembled here, and the parts supply that go into them, would be uncompeti- tive in the United States," said O'Toole. "Historically, 80 per cent or more of what has rolled off the line here in Oakville has been sold in the United States. Going back to the 1965 Auto Pact, we've had free trade in vehicles, and we needfree trade in vehicles, and we needf to get back to that because if there is a 25 per cent tariff plopped on a car and other vehicles don't have that, it's hard to see consumers As a trade war intensifies be- tween Canada and the United States, Ford of Canada and others are weighing in on the developing situation and what U.S. tariffs could mean for business in Oak- ville - and beyond. paying for the more expensive one. That could lead to job losses; that could lead to layoffs; that could lead to less investment in Ontario plants and more invest- ment in U.S. plants. On top of elec- tricity prices and the carbon tax and a number of other things that are already making Ontario a bit uncompetitive, the tariffs could be very damaging." According to its website, the Oakville Ford assembly plant cur- rently employs approximately 4,600 people. The Oakville Chamber of Com- merce, which recently hheld a roundtable discussion with O'Toole to talk about U.S. tariffs, is also expressing concerns about the situation. Oakville chamber president Drew Redden said the local busi- ness group, along with chambers of commerce across the country, support the federal government's efforts to have the U.S. tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum products lifted. "Canada's retaliatory tariffs are necessary to defend Canadian businesses and encourage the U.S. government to reverse its un-U.S. government to reverse its un-U justified tariffs," said Redden. "We are concerned about the effects these tariffs will have on the Canadian, provincial and lo- cal economy, as the majority of steel produced in Canada is in On- tario. These tariffs will not only impact the steel and aluminum manufacturers, but will also have a real impact on the automotive sector." Redden said Canadian con- sumers can expect to pay more for products under these tariffs, which can impact anything from refrigerators to canned food. "As a result, many Canadian businesses, including many here in Oakville, may have to source new suppliers to keep their costs down," the Oakville chamber president said. "We encourage our members to share with us how these tariffs are impacting their business, so we can continue to advocate on their behalf." The idea that anything pro- duced in Canada is posing a secu- rity threat to the United States is "absurd," said Oakville North- Burlington MP Pam Damoff. She said the Canadian govern- ment does not want to be in this position but noted it has to take a stand. Damoff, like many others, is hoping cooler heads will prevail. In the meantime, she said, the FORD, OAKVILLE CHAMBER AND OTHERS TALK TRUMP TARIFFS AND THEIR POTENTIAL IMPACT DAVID LEA dlea@metroland.com NEWS Continued on page 19