TRUCKER demonstrations in Canada have reportedly interrupted production at two of the world’s largest automakers, Ford and Toyota.
Plants have been forced to close, because vehicle parts are being held up at two US border ports by truckers protesting a vaccine mandate.
Omar Alghabra, Canada’s Transport Minister, described it as an illegal economic blockade against all Canadians.
The daily cost of the trade disruption is projected to be $300 million (£221 million).
Truckers blocking the Ambassador Bridge, Canada’s most major border crossing, held Canadian flags and posters criticizing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for refusing to repeal a rule requiring truckers entering the country to be completely immunized against the coronavirus.
The demonstrators have also expressed resistance to Covid passports and the mask requirement.
The Ambassador Bridge which connects Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit, Michigan, in the United States is the world’s largest international suspension bridge, carrying nearly a fifth of all trade between the United States and Canada.
Toyota, the nation’s biggest automaker, has halted production at three Ontario factories, stating that no more automobiles will be built this week.
A Ford engine facility has also been shut down, while Stellantis, which owns Chrysler, has claimed that parts shortages have impacted shifts at its Ontario plant.
The shutdowns are an additional setback for the auto industry, which is already dealing with a global scarcity of semiconductor chips as a result of the pandemic’s economic impact.
According to industry experts, the protests could result in job losses and higher vehicle prices for consumers.
The protests started late last month in central Ottawa, where roughly 400 vehicles are still parked.
According to Michelle Krebs, a senior analyst with Autotrader in Detroit, North American assembly facilities rely on timely component deliveries across the Ambassador Bridge.
She said the car industry was “a significant portion of the economy and an important portion of consumer spending – it’s the second-largest purchase people make – and it’s been hampered in the past year”.
Protesters have also stopped a crucial commercial link between Coutts, Alberta, and Sweet Grass, Montana, for several days.
