Mississauga prepares to defend local businesses against US tariffs

Mississauga officials are developing strategies to protect local small and medium-sized businesses from the economic impact of escalating US tariff policies against Canada. Mayor Carolyn Parrish met with the Mississauga Board of Trade and city economic development leaders to address the threat posed by the suspension of trade negotiations.

The city's economy is highly sensitive to these developments, as approximately 18 per cent of total employment—roughly 89,000 jobs—is tied directly to exports to the United States. Vulnerable sectors include automotive parts, machinery, electronics, plastics, rubber, furniture, steel, and aluminum.

To mitigate these risks, the city has applied for $1.5 million through the federal Regional Tariff Response Initiative. This funding is intended to support a trade mission acceleration program aimed at helping local businesses diversify their operations into non-US markets through export readiness training.