As we come to the end of Trump’s first week in office, with the tariff question live but (as yet) unresolved, we’re exploring the varying degrees of trade dependence of Canada’s manufacturing industries. Drawing from a Trillium Network Data Bulletin, the data shows that some are highly reliant on international trade, while others are far less so. Find out which industries are most and least exposed in this brief episode.

• 00:16 Current Trade Climate and Its Implications
• 00:54 Further Reading and Listening on the Topic of Trade
• 03:13 Exposure of the Automotive and Aerospace Industries
• 04:15 The Most Trade-Dependent Industry
• 06:28 Industries with Low Trade Dependency
• 08:33 Conclusion and Optimism for the Future

Highlighted Reports/Episodes

• Data Bulletin #3: Canadian Manufacturing and Trade Dependence trilliummfg.ca/data-bulletin/canadian-manufacturing-trade-dependence/
• Making it in Ontario, Season 11 Episode 1: Martinrea’s Rob Wildeboer on Geopolitics, EVs, and Crises https://player.captivate.fm/episode/e6d72383-60cc-465e-9dff-5400030187fb/
• Making it in Ontario, Season 10 Episode 12: Mythbusting Automotive Trade Stats https://player.captivate.fm/episode/30c726f3-3d22-4db1-8a10-6aaedf4a70e9/
• Data Bulletin #15: Canadian Automotive Trade, Production, and Sales, 2014-2023 trilliummfg.ca/data-bulletin/canadian-automotive-trade-production-and-sales-2014-2023/
• Who’s Subsidizing Whom? by Jim Stanford, Centre for Future Work https://centreforfuturework.ca/2025/01/12/whos-subsidizing-whom

Find Out More About Trillium

• Trillium website: trilliummfg.ca
• Trillium GIS: trilliumgis.ca
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/trilliummfg
• X/Twitter: x.com/TrilliumMfg
• Instagram: instagram.com/trilliummfg
• Facebook: facebook.com/trilliummfg
• Old ‘Making it in Ontario’ Episodes: https://soundcloud.com/making-it-in-ontario-past

About the Making it in Ontario Podcast

Making it in Ontario is your window into what's next in manufacturing. Ontario’s economy depends on manufacturing, but the latest research reveals concerning trends that could undermine the sector’s strength—if we don’t address them. Join us as we talk to CEOs and other leaders at the forefront of the sector about productivity, strategy, talent markets and career opportunities, and the role of manufacturing in a prosperous and sustainable future.

This podcast is an initiative of the Trillium Network for Advanced Manufacturing. It is produced by Storied Places Media.