Poilievre announces auto plan aiming for tariff-free access to U.S. market

Political analyst Stewart Prest reacts to Poilievre's auto plan and what he hopes to demonstrate to voters.

OTTAWA — Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has unveiled a new auto plan that aims to secure tariff-free access to the U.S. market.

Poilievre said at an announcement in Windsor on Sunday he expects U.S. President Donald Trump to agree to the plan because it would increase production in both countries.

“I’ve got a plan that would advantage both Americans and Canadians if we get to (a) tariff-free deal and a one-for-one production-to-sales ratio,” he said.

Poilievre said the plan “would bring American production up from 11 million to 13 million. In other words, they would win new and increased production as a result of this plan, which is exactly the stated policy objective of the U.S. administration.”

The Conservative plan would implement a rule where for each car produced in Canada, the same manufacturer would be able to sell a U.S.- or Mexico-made car in Canada duty-free. The rule would be implemented on a dollar-for-dollar basis.

The plan would also harmonize tailpipe emissions reductions with the U.S., and align Canada with the United States on Chinese tariffs in a move meant to give Canada leverage in trade talks.

In January, Carney and Chinese President Xi Jinping signed an agreement that will see Canada allow Chinese electric vehicles into the country at a 6.1 per cent tariff rate. Canada joined the U.S. in putting a 100 per cent tariff on Chinese electric vehicles in 2024, with accusations of unfair subsidies and dumping vehicles in the North American market.

Trump and his administration have levied tariffs on the auto industry, saying they want to force vehicle manufacturers to move their production to the United States.

Vehicles have been subject to a 25 per cent tariff on both sides of the border since April 2025. The duty on Canadian vehicles only applies to non-American parts.

Poilievre argued Sunday that Canada has no alternative to the U.S. auto market.

“The Americans buy 90 per cent of the automobiles that Canada makes, and we buy almost all of the rest, meaning there are almost no overseas exports of Canadian automobiles today, and that cannot be changed on a dime,” he said.

The plan aims to increase Canadian auto production to two million vehicles annually over the next decade, up from 1.2 million last year. That’s down from 2.3 million in 2016, the Conservatives said in a news release.

Poilievre said Friday he’s consulted with unions in the sector and said they “should be” supportive of his plan. A spokesperson for Unifor declined to comment on Sunday.

The auto plan would also remove the GST from Canadian-made vehicles and end the Liberal government’s electric vehicle subsidies. In February, the federal government announced it was reintroducing a rebate program for electric vehicles.

Poilievre’s plan would also ban vehicles that use Chinese- or Russian-connected software. Additionally, the Conservatives are aiming to create a “harmonized North American cybersecurity and data standard” and ban Chinese vehicles from “proximity to Canadian Forces bases and other sensitive or strategic infrastructure,” a background document outlined.

The background materials did not specify how that would be implemented or enforced.

Poilievre made the announcement after meeting with senior executives from General Motors and Ford.

“I just came back from Detroit, where I met with the Detroit automakers. They want to see the tariffs removed, and they believe that they could increase production on their side of the border if we put an end to these tariffs,” he said.

Anja Karadeglija, The Canadian Press

With files from Sarah Ritchie

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 15, 2026.