First modification:
The Biden Administration asked the Canadian Prime Minister to urge an end to the blockade of trucks that afflicts production on both sides of the border. For its part, the Canadian province of Ontario declared a state of emergency and vehicle factories on US soil had to close or reduce their intensity. Meanwhile, the United States authorities fear that the mobilization in Canada will be replicated in its territory.
This Thursday, February 11, the US government asked Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to use federal powers to end the blockade of Canadian trucks protesting Covid-19 restrictions and putting automotive plants on both sides in check. from the border, which had to close or reduce their production.
The so-called ‘Freedom Convoy’ interrupted for the fourth day in a row the flow of traffic on the Ambassador Bridge, the busiest border crossing between these countries, which connects Ontario with Detroit and is the road through which 25% of the all the trade between both nations. The consequences were felt quickly.
As an alternative to bypassing the blockade and entering Canada, Detroit truckers had to detour 70 miles north to Port Huron, Michigan, and cross the Blue Water Bridge, where there were two-hour traffic jams leaving the US.
Hundreds of truckers, after blocking downtown Ottawa for two weeks, also blocked two other border crossings. The one from Windsor-Detroit was joined by those connecting Coutts (Alberta) with Montana and Emerson (Manitoba) with North Dakota.
This evening, I had several meetings that were focused on the illegal blockades and occupations happening across the country. They’re harming the communities they’re taking place in – and they’re hurting jobs, businesses, and our country’s economy. More below ⤵️
—Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) February 11, 2022
In this context, US officials called for a more concrete intervention from the Canadian authorities. The US Secretary of Homeland Security and Transportation communicated with their Canadian counterparts to press for a resolution of this standoff.
In the last few hours, local and national governments in Canada have intensified efforts to prevent the bloc from continuing. Trudeau’s office said there is a willingness to “respond with whatever is necessary”; while the federal Minister for Public Safety dispatched Mounted Police reinforcements to Windsor and Coutts in anticipation of a border blockade.
Meanwhile, Ontario’s Conservative Premier – who declared a state of emergency on Friday – managed to cut off funding for the protests by asking a court to freeze millions of dollars in donations that were raised through crowdfunding in the GiveSendGo site. The same thing had previously happened with GoFundMe, a space from which the organizers raised almost eight million dollars.
Drew Dilkens, mayor of the town of Windsor, announced that the city will take steps to obtain a court order to end the matter that added economic pressure. “The damage is not sustainable and must come to an end,” he asserted.
Trudeau is adamant about repealing coronavirus vaccination mandates that require all truck drivers entering the country to be fully vaccinated. The high number of inoculated (ranges 90%) caused a sector of the conservatives to ask the prime minister to be more flexible.
America braces for trucker protests
The authorities believe that there are serious chances that a similar demonstration will be replicated, as happened in France and New Zealand. The Department of Homeland Security said it has received reports that there are plans to “potentially block highways in major metropolitan cities” over mandatory vaccinations for carriers, among other complaints.
They estimate that it can start in southern California from this weekend, making it difficult to circulate around the Super Bowl, the great event that the United States will celebrate next Sunday. The White House reported that it will increase security personnel for the game.
This blockade deepens the bad moment of the North American automotive industry, especially the United States, afflicted by the shortage of technological supplies and the worldwide lack of computer chips, a circumstance that led manufacturers to momentarily close their factories.
On the Canadian side, the Ford company has reopened in Windsor after being closed due to lack of parts, but the assembly plant in Oakville is operating at half capacity. For their part, others such as Honda had to stop their production; while Toyota closed its three factories due to a shortage of spare parts.
On US soil, the Jeep plant -in Ohio-, GM -in Michigan- and Toyota -in Kentucky- reduced the number of shifts.
“The disruptions we are seeing at the Detroit-Windsor Ambassador Bridge and other crossings add to significant supply chain strains for manufacturers and other businesses in the United States,” said the Chamber of Commerce, Association National Manufacturers and Business Roundtable in a joint statement.
with AP