Border brief,
Stellantis Canada strike mandate adds risk to Windsor auto parts flows
Unifor's Stellantis workers voted 97.3% for a strike mandate, though no deadline is set. Windsor Assembly stays idle through the week of Nov. 2, and a court challenge to the 50% tariffs on Canadian goods is underway.
At the border
We could not pull Friday-morning commercial waits in time for this brief. Before dispatching, check the live wait times for the Ambassador, Gordie Howe and Blue Water bridges, and the Niagara page for the Peace Bridge and Lewiston–Queenston. We found no reported closures at those crossings or the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge in today's search.
The Canada Border Services Agency said on Oct. 21 that officers found 127 kg of suspected cocaine in the trailer of a U.S.-origin truck at the Ambassador Bridge after a September secondary exam, The Canadian Press reported. Two Mississauga men face charges. Analysis: expect secondary referrals to stay routine on Canada-bound loads.
Diesel
No new federal numbers since Tuesday. The U.S. Energy Information Administration put the Midwest diesel average at $6.352 a gallon for the week of Oct. 19, up 9.3 cents, and the U.S. average at $6.276, up 9.7 cents, according to EIA regional tables published by Transport Topics and SMC3. 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
- Stellantis strike mandate. About 9,000 Unifor members at Stellantis plants in Canada voted 97.3% in favour of strike action on Oct. 17–18, Transport Topics reported. The union is not yet in a legal strike position, and no deadline has been set. Talks broke off after Roshel said it had signed a memo toward buying the idle Brampton plant, a sale Unifor opposes. Stellantis says it is willing to return to the table. Analysis: a strike would cut Canada-bound parts loads into Windsor and Brampton and the return flow of finished vehicles. Shippers on those lanes could line up backup capacity now rather than after a deadline is announced.
- Windsor Assembly idle longer. Stellantis has cancelled production at Windsor Assembly for three weeks through the week of Nov. 2, per Transport Topics. Expect lighter auto parts traffic on the Detroit River crossings until then.
- Tariff lawsuit. The suit filed Oct. 20 at the U.S. Court of International Trade asks the court to strike down the 50% Section 338 tariffs on about US$20 billion of Canadian goods and to order refunds, CNBC reported. Analysis: a ruling is likely months away. Importers should keep complete entry records in case refunds are ordered.
- Trade tone stays sour. Canada announced new support for steel and auto on Oct. 21, the same day the U.S. Embassy accused Canadian officials of trying to sway the Nov. 3 midterms, Euronews reported. Reported package totals differ between outlets.
Sources
Stellantis vote and Windsor Assembly: Transport Topics, Oct. 19. Ambassador Bridge seizure: CP24 / The Canadian Press, Oct. 21. Lawsuit: CNBC, Oct. 20. Aid package and embassy dispute: Euronews, Oct. 22. Diesel (EIA, week of Oct. 19): Transport Topics and SMC3.