Corridor brief,
Carney and Trump talk trade as Ottawa and Ontario pledge $8.7B for tariff-hit industry
Carney said he and Trump discussed trade by phone on Oct. 21, the same day Ottawa and Ontario unveiled $8.7 billion for steel and auto. A U.S. importer has sued to overturn the 50% tariffs on Canadian goods.
At the border
We could not confirm Thursday-morning commercial waits in time for this brief. Before dispatching, check the live wait times for the Ambassador, Gordie Howe and Blue Water bridges, which refresh every few minutes from CBP and CBSA.
Production at Windsor Assembly is cancelled for the weeks of Oct. 19 and Oct. 26, Unifor said earlier this month, according to CTV News. Analysis: Canada-bound parts volume into Windsor should stay lighter than normal through next week. Compare live waits on both Detroit River bridges before routing.
Diesel
No new federal numbers since Tuesday's brief. The U.S. Energy Information Administration put the Midwest diesel average at $6.352 a gallon for the week of Oct. 19, up about 9 cents, and the U.S. average at $6.276, up 9.7 cents, FleetOwner and Logistics Management reported on Oct. 20–21. The next EIA update is due Monday, Oct. 26.
We could not confirm this week's Ontario price, so check the diesel page for the Windsor comparison before deciding where to fuel.
What we're watching
- Carney and Trump spoke Wednesday. Prime Minister Mark Carney said he and President Trump talked by phone on the morning of Oct. 21 and "did address some of the issues around trade," BNN Bloomberg reported. The same day, U.S. officials released a fact sheet accusing Canadian officials of meddling in American politics, citing Ontario's anti-tariff ad campaign. Analysis: a call is not a negotiation. Canadian officials have told industry groups not to expect a deal before the Nov. 3 U.S. midterms, CBC reported on Oct. 20, and Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc confirmed that.
- $8.7 billion for steel and auto. Carney and Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced a joint package on Oct. 21: $5 billion to upgrade Ontario steel mills, $2.5 billion to help automakers shift to electric vehicles and $1 billion for Ring of Fire roads, per BNN Bloomberg. Ottawa also promised tougher CBSA enforcement against dumped foreign steel. Analysis: brokers handling steel into Canada should expect closer scrutiny of origin and valuation paperwork.
- Court challenge to the 50% tariffs. New Jersey food importer Gellert Global Group sued in the U.S. Court of International Trade on Oct. 20, arguing that Section 338 of the Trade Act of 1930 does not support the 50% duty on about US$20 billion of Canadian goods in effect since Aug. 22, Supply Chain Dive reported. The suit seeks refunds. Analysis: a ruling could take months. Importers paying these duties should keep entry records in case refunds are ordered.
- Auto tariff threat not yet formal. Trump's threatened 50% tariff on vehicles, parts and steel from Jan. 1, 2027 has not been formally issued, LeBlanc said, per CBC.
Sources
Carney–Trump call and aid package: BNN Bloomberg, Oct. 21 and BNN Bloomberg, Oct. 21. Trade-deal timing and auto tariffs: CBC News via Yahoo, Oct. 20. Windsor Assembly: CTV News Windsor, Oct. 2. Lawsuit: Supply Chain Dive, Oct. 20. Diesel (EIA data, week of Oct. 19): FleetOwner and Logistics Management.