The CTMA is concerned about the recent announcement allowing vehicles manufactured in China to enter the Canadian market. While much of the public conversation has focused on finished vehicles, the implications extend far beyond assembly and sales.
Canada’s tooling, machining, and advanced manufacturing sector underpins the automotive supply chain. Many CTMA member companies design, build, and maintain the tooling, moulds, dies, and machinery required to support domestic production. These companies employ highly skilled workers, invest locally, and contribute to Canada’s long-term industrial competitiveness.
Policy decisions that significantly increase exposure to heavily subsidized foreign production risk weakening domestic supply chains, reducing investment in Canadian manufacturing, and putting skilled jobs at risk. Once this industrial capability is lost, it is extremely difficult — and costly — to rebuild.
In response, CTMA has formally communicated these concerns to government officials and media, advocating for policies that recognize the full impact of this decision on Canada’s manufacturing ecosystem and the thousands of businesses and workers it supports. Our correspondence emphasizes the importance of maintaining a level playing field, protecting domestic capability, and ensuring Canada remains competitive in advanced manufacturing.
“The decision to import Chinese made EV’s isn’t just about vehicle manufacturing — it affects the entire manufacturing ecosystem behind them. Many CTMA member companies play a critical role in tooling, machining, and advanced manufacturing, and policy choices like this can have long-term consequences for domestic capability, investment, and skilled jobs in Canada. When policy decisions expose our members to heavily subsidized foreign competition without safeguards, it puts real companies and real jobs at risk,” said Robert Cattle, executive director, and Louis Jahn, president.
CTMA will continue to engage with policymakers, industry partners, and stakeholders to ensure the voices of Canadian tooling and machining companies are heard and that the long-term health of Canada’s manufacturing sector remains a national priority.
Read CTMA’s letter to officials here.