Unifor's People's Trade Town Hall is in the books — one of five events organized nation-wide.
More than 100 residents and union members gathered at the Local's 200 and 444 Union Hall on Turner Rd. Wednesday in an effort to document the ideas and experiences of residents when it comes to trade deals.
Essex MP Tracy Ramsey tells AM800 News the auto industry is bracing for a big blow.
"Vehicles are built out of steel and aluminum so the 10% and 15% tariffs will very shortly start to have an impact on everyone's jobs here in Windsor-Essex," she says. "With these looming auto tariffs of a potential 25% that could come down as early as Labour Day, this could be devastating to our region."
Ramsey says many people are telling her the recent tariffs imposed by the U.S., European Union and Canada will trickle down to everyone involved in the manufacturing process — and many who simply work stateside.
"The parts manufactures are worried, the tool and die mold makers, there are a lot of groups locally who have been watching very closely," says Ramsey. "There are a lot of people who live here and work on the other side and they're very worried as well about their VISA. There's a lot of uncertainty around people even crossing the border."
She encourages residents to get the message to those working on a resolution.
"Writing to the trade committee and engaging with the government, they can be engaging with their other provincial counterparts, the municipal," she says. "At this point in time it could look like something like petitions, protests; there are a lot of things I think that people are thinking about on the ground right now to try to push back against this message."
The findings of the meeting will be used to create a summary report that will be submitted to the federal government.