Singapore’s primary Chinese language newspaper Lianhe Zaobao recently reported that the share of U.S.-made cars in the Canadian auto market has fallen to a new low. The auto tariffs disrupted a decades-long tradition of close cross-border integration in the automotive industry.
According to Statistics Canada’s import data, in the first 10 months of 2025, only 36 percent of passenger vehicles imported into Canada were manufactured in the United States. In comparison, the average percentage over the previous 10 years was 49 percent. Traditionally, Canada is the largest buyer of new cars and trucks manufactured in the United States. But these new figures highlight how the trade war launched by the Trump administration has altered the industry landscape. Now Mexican and South Korean-made vehicles are gaining a larger share of sales at Canadian auto dealerships.
U.S. President Trump’s tariffs on foreign-made cars prompted Canada to retaliate with tariffs on U.S. cars and trucks. However, the Canadian government granted some exemptions to automakers still producing vehicles in Ontario, such as Toyota and General Motors.
Source: Lianhe Zaobao, January 16, 2026
https://www.zaobao.com.sg/realtime/world/story20260116-8114209