Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Essex Free Press

Essex MP Chris Lewis is fighting for local manufacturing jobs.

Recently, Lewis and fellow local Conservative MPs Harb Gill, Kathy Borrelli, and Dave Epp went to the Standing Committee on Industry and Technology and said “this is an absolute emergency” in response to the changes the US made on April 6, 2026 to Section 232 tariffs on steel, aluminum, and copper and derivative products.

They were able, with support from the Bloc Québécois, to host three meetings on the matter.

He said the testimony that came from Essex-Windsor businesses, such as mould makers, “was dire.

“It was one of the most unique committee meetings I have been to in darn-near seven-years,” Lewis said. The testimony was consistent from those businesses impacted by tariffs. If they can get through to July, perhaps they can save the industry. Once it is gone, however, the skilled trades are gone and the machines are gone for good.

Through those committee meetings, Lewis relayed from the Windsor Regional Chamber of Commerce that one in five employees work in manufacturing.

“That’s why we reached out to Ambassador Hoekstra,” Lewis said. They had a meeting that lasted around an hour-and-a-half recently to lay out messaging for President Donald Trump.

His team of local MPs, Lewis said, has come at the matter from a bunch of different angles.

He believes their work led to Minister of Industry Mélanie Joly announcing $1B in funding to support the steel, aluminum, and copper sectors that have been impacted by US tariffs earlier this month.

She said at that time the US changed how it would apply tariffs on products containing those metals. The federal government will offer “favourable terms for three-year loans” between $2M and $50M. The first year will have no interest, while year two and three will have “low” rates, she said. Repayment is due at the end of the three-years.

What the businesses noted during those committee meetings is they received a purchase order for their product a year ago. They can’t absorb those additional tariffs. They asked the government to pick-up the tariffs, Lewis said.

What was provided just pushed the issue down the road, Lewis explained. That is not what they asked for. What businesses want is a deal done with the US, Lewis relayed.

“The very fact that [Prime Minister] Mark Carney is not delivering for Canadians as he campaigned and promised is shameful beyond belief,” Lewis said.

Lewis said he will try to continue to raise awareness of this matter. He said the work is far from over, but is grateful it has gotten national attention.

He added it is larger than just the auto sector, it includes every day plastic household items requiring a mould to make.

“My heart breaks for so many of the young adults that don’t have the same opportunity growing up as I did,” Lewis said. “Canada didn’t use to be this way and it doesn’t have to be this way. I will be part of the solution, not part of the problem.”