IAM Union Rebukes President Trump’s Erratic Tariff Policies as Economic Anxiety for Working Families Continues to Rise

Mar 11, 2025 | Politics & Legislative News

Brian Bryant, International President of the 600,000-member IAM Union, and David Chartrand, IAM Canadian General Vice President, issued the following statement rebuking President Trump’s erratic tariff policies, which are creating anxiety for millions of workers across Canada and the United States:

“The Trump administration’s erratic approach to tariffs is wreaking havoc on workers and businesses in the United States and Canada. This reckless trade policy creates unnecessary economic uncertainty, threatens good-paying jobs, and disrupts industries that rely on a stable and cooperative North American supply chain.

“The IAM Union calls for an immediate and permanent end to these damaging tariffs. Canada is not an adversary—it is one of our closest allies and largest trading partners. Instead of using tariffs as a political weapon, the Trump administration should focus on policies reinforcing economic ties between our nations and protecting workers’ livelihoods in aerospace, defense, and manufacturing.

“IAM members demand a trade strategy that puts workers first, fosters long-term economic growth, and strengthens our manufacturing base on both sides of the border.

“Now is the time for real leadership. Real lives are at stake. We urge President Trump and his trade advisors to sit down with all the stakeholders—government, business, and labor—to work together on a comprehensive plan that ensures stability, growth, and job security for workers across North America.”

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is one of North America’s largest and most diverse industrial trade unions, representing approximately 600,000 active and retired members in the aerospace, defense, airlines, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries across the United States and Canada.

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