The Crossing Report

Border brief,

Windsor Assembly idle a fourth week; Hoekstra sees a trade deal by year-end

Windsor Assembly builds nothing this week, the fourth idle week in a row. U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra says a Canada–U.S. deal could come before 2027. Midwest diesel was $6.402 on Nov. 2, with new EIA numbers due today.

At the border

We could not load live crossing data this morning, from our own feed, CBSA or CBP. We have no wait reading for Monday, Nov. 9, so check live wait times and the Niagara board before dispatching. We found no closure reports for the Ambassador, Gordie Howe or Blue Water bridges, the Buffalo–Niagara crossings or the Soo, but that is a search result, not a live check.

Windsor Assembly is the local freight story this week. Stellantis has cancelled production for the week of Nov. 9, the fourth straight idle week after Oct. 19, Oct. 26 and Nov. 2, according to ClubAlfa, citing AM800. Production workers stay home unless called in; skilled trades keep working. Stellantis pointed to changing market conditions, including demand and tariffs. A restart on Nov. 16 has not been confirmed.

Analysis: the plant builds the Chrysler Pacifica, Grand Caravan and Dodge Charger. Carriers hauling parts to Windsor, or finished minivans out, should expect another light week and plan for the possibility of a fifth.

On trade, the tone has improved, but nothing changes your paperwork today. U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra said in an interview reported Nov. 6 that a deal could come before the end of 2026, and that "the president knows what he wants" on trade. Prime Minister Mark Carney said Friday that Ottawa welcomes moves to restore free trade. CTV reported Nov. 2 that Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is pushing to restart talks. No terms are public. Analysis: keep pricing on current tariff rates until a signed text appears.

Diesel

EIA's Nov. 2 survey had the Midwest at $6.402 a gallon and the U.S. average at $6.292, down 6 cents from Oct. 26. New EIA figures are due this afternoon.

We could not load Ontario's weekly survey, a Windsor price or a current exchange rate. Canadians for Affordable Energy forecasts Toronto diesel at 239.9¢ a litre today and Tuesday, after a 1-cent rise on Sunday, Nov. 8. Without a checked exchange rate we are not converting that to U.S. dollars today. Tuesday's brief should have fresh prices on both sides. See the diesel page.

What we're watching

  • Flying Trucks. CBP ends the use of air manifests for cargo that arrives by truck on Nov. 24, 15 days away. Truck carriers must file truck manifests by then; CBP says non-compliance may bring delays or penalties.
  • Windsor Assembly. Watch for a Stellantis notice on the week of Nov. 16, likely late this week.
  • Trade talks. Watch for a meeting between Dominic LeBlanc and Lutnick, and for any published terms. Analysis: auto parts shippers have the most riding on a year-end deal, since parts cross the river several times per vehicle.

Sources

Plant: ClubAlfa, Nov. 5; ClubAlfa, Nov. 6. Trade: CTV via BNN Bloomberg, Hoekstra; CTV, Lutnick. Diesel: EIA data via OilPriceAPI; Canadians for Affordable Energy. Customs: CBP CSMS 69657207.