| The Canada-United States Automotive Agreement more commonly known as the Auto Pact was an important trade agreement between Canada and
the United States. It was signed by Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson and President Lyndon B. Johnson
in January of 1965
It removed tariffs on cars, trucks,
buses, tires and automotive parts between the two
countries, greatly benefiting the large American car makers. In exchange the big three car makers (GM, Ford, Chrysler) agreed that automobile production in Canada would not fall below 1964 levels and that for every five new cars sold in Canada three new ones would be made there.
Before the Auto Pact the North American automobile industry was highly
segregated. Because of tariffs only three percent of vehicles sold in Canada were made in the United States, but most of the
parts were manufactured in the U.S. and overall Canada was in a large trade
deficit with the States in the automobile sector.
The Pact saw vast and immediate changes. Canada began to produce far fewer different models of cars. Instead, much larger
branch plants producing only one
model for all of North America were constructed. In 1964, only seven percent of vehicles made in Canada were sent south of the
border, but, by 1968, this was sixty percent. By the same date, forty percent of cars
purchased in Canada were now made in the United States. Overall the agreement was of great benefit to Canadian workers and
consumers. The more efficient market lowered prices and the increased production created thousands of jobs and wages in the auto
industry rose to match those in the United States. Automobile and parts production quickly surpassed pulp and paper to become Canada's most important industry.
The trade deficit has turned into a trade surplus worth billions of
dollars annually to Canada.
At the same time there are important disadvantages to this arragement. It left the Canadian automobile industry firmly in the
hands of American corporations. Unlike, for instance, Sweden with Volvo Cars and Saab
Automobile, Canada has no domestic car makers, despite a long history of Canadian car companies. The agreement also led to
the creation almost exclusively of blue collar jobs. Administration and
research and development remained in the United States. The agreement also prevents Canada from pursuing free trade in
automobiles with other nations, such as Japan. The growth has also been very regionally
skewed with southern Ontario overwhelmingly being the main centre of production.
The act was modified by the 1988 Canadian-American Free Trade Agreement but still remains in force today. The
deal can be repealed by either side with a years notice.
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