The automotive, components and spare parts at risk stop. And Washington fears contagion
FROM THE CORRESPONDENT FROM WASHINGTON. Every day 38 Martinrea International trucks drive along the three lanes of the Ambassador Bridge which connects Canada to the United States. They transport semi-finished products, engine components, drive belts and brakes for Detroit’s auto industry giants. And they are only a part, albeit a decisive one, of the 300 million goods that cross that border every day, which has become almost symbolic since NAFTA, the great commercial agreement wanted by Bush Sr. and brought to the arrival by Clinton in 1994, reduced tariffs and trade boundaries.
Ontario and Detroit are one big factory. Groups like Stellantis, GM, Ford plan and build the vast majority of vehicles on the North American roads there.
For four days, the Ambassador Bridge has been paralyzed, traffic to Ontario has stopped, traffic returning to the United States is slow, only one lane for a few cars. Martinrea vehicles are stationary in the parking lots, the automotive related companies have their doors closed. And the big industries from Wednesday have, some suspended and some slowed down, part of the production. In a Stellantis statement, he stressed that he hoped that “a solution can be reached soon so that the systems can be brought back to normal”.
On the thirteenth day of the truckers’ protest, with the border points also jammed in the province of Manitoba on the border with North Dakota and Alberta, and the Canadian capital Ottawa invaded by articulated trucks and truck drivers, what at first seemed a four-wheeled No Vax revolt is undermining the Canadian political and economic system and beyond. Two-thirds of the entire commercial exchange (511 billion dollars a year) passes on the road along the US-Canada axis and on the fourth day of the blockade of the most sensitive border route, the authorities begin to think about the repercussions.
Tiff Macklem, governor of the Canadian Central Bank, called for a quick solution to the crisis which if – he said – were to continue further “it would have an impact on the Canadian economy”. From the White House, Biden’s spokesperson Jen Psaki hit the same key: “It is important that everyone in Canada and the United States understand that the impact of the blockade on workers and the supply chain is high.” The US administration has initiated a series of contacts with companies to try to minimize inconvenience and production stops.
On January 28, the truck drivers had started a protest over the rules and restrictions and above all for the obligation of the double vaccine for those entering the country. “We want respect for the rights of those who do not want to get vaccinated”, one of the slogans of the origins. But the protest took a different turn in the days. Also because according to data released by the premier’s office, 90% of truck drivers are vaccinated. The analyst Laurence Bindner explains: “We no longer find ourselves facing a handful of No Vax, the claims are now more extensive, an anti-system protest is underway”. That goes beyond the Canadian borders.
The Department of Homeland Security released a report on Wednesday evening warning of possible risks of demonstrations and truck driver marches in Inglewood, Calif., In conjunction with Sunday’s Super Bowl. From there the parade of trucks would leave in a snake towards Washington. Here the protesters would like to arrive on March 1 when Joe Biden will deliver the State of the Union Address to Congress. For now, Homeland Security specifies, we are at the level of chat and hypotheses circulated online, but also the genesis – and the current management itself – of the Ottawa protest, known as «Freedom Convoy 2022», was born in this way. The American Trucking Association, which represents US transportation companies, has warned its associates to imitate Canadian behavior. But the protest still finds its breath outside the official channels. A few days ago the Canadian police chief, Peter Sloy, spoke openly of “significant elements” that refer to a role in the management and financing of the protests. The most radical US right has sympathized with the truckers and before being closed when there were the first arrests in Ottawa, the crowdfunding campaign on GoFundMe – which started in the States – had raised 8 million dollars to be allocated to the Canadian Freedom Convoy and other similar initiatives.
Drew Dilkens, mayor of Windsor, Canadian Ambassador Bridge funnel yesterday went to CNN threatening to “use force to remove the blocks.” The Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, would have given truckers until Saturday to clear out and lift the siege in the center of an exhausted Ottawa and refused any negotiations with the demonstrators. “We continue to believe that the best way to get out of the pandemic is to rely on science and rules,” said the premier criticized by opposition conservatives. But even for them, who at first tried to ride the discontent, it’s time to adjust the game. The inhabitants of Ottawa are furious, normal life – already severely tested by Covid – is even more complicated by blocked roads and traffic triggered by the protest. So even the conservatives who initially accused Trudeau of using “compulsory vaccination as a political weapon”, in the last few hours have limited their support to the demonstrators. The coordination of which passes through some press releases on social media in which they promise no strong rendition of the slogan “Who dares, wins”. For now, the Ottawa police have arrested 23 people in the face of 80 complaints filed. But the hard line could soon be triggered. The police asked for reinforcements and the peaceful demonstrations at the beginning are now considered illegal. Not so much those in Ottawa, but definitely the Ambassador Bridge block. It has become a question of relations with the US neighbor. That it needs everything now, with inflation soaring, except a new social crisis and supply chain lockdown.
Unlimited access to all site content
€ 1 / month for 3 months, then € 3.99 / month for 3 months
Unlock unlimited access to all content on the site
#siege #Ottawa #Canadian #truckers #block #bridge