Brampton is encouraging businesses to look for markets beyond the U.S.<\/p>\n
Brampton is looking beyond the United States for its next wave of trade and manufacturing opportunities as the ongoing tariff fight threatens to make the city\u2019s traditional reliance on the American market increasingly difficult.<\/p>\n
Mayor Patrick Brown unveiled a 10-point U.S. Tariff and Economic Resilience Plan today (Sept. 10), with one key goal of helping Brampton businesses find customers and investment outside the U.S.<\/p>\n
Brown said Brampton has benefited for decades from its proximity to the American market, but the current uncertainty shows the danger of relying too heavily on one trading partner.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can\u2019t be dependent on one market,\u201d Brown said.<\/p>\n
The city\u2019s \u201cGo Global Brampton\u201d initiative is already working with about 310 local businesses that are exporting to markets outside Canada and the U.S. Brown said the program will help connect more Brampton companies with opportunities in Canada, Europe, Asia, Mexico and other parts of the world.<\/p>\n
The mayor pointed to Brampton-based MDA Space as an example of what that diversification can look like.<\/p>\n
The company is working with the European Space Agency on the Argonaut Lunar Mission, demonstrating how local companies can find major opportunities beyond the traditional Canada-U.S. trade relationship.<\/p>\n
Brown said the United States will remain an important market for Brampton businesses, but the city wants companies to have other options.<\/p>\n
That strategy is being paired with efforts to attract more investment to Brampton, particularly in advanced manufacturing, innovation, life sciences and logistics.<\/p>\n
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The city plans to launch an \u201cInvest Brampton\u201d campaign aligned with the federal government\u2019s Canadian Investment Summit. Brampton has also submitted two proposals for consideration at the summit.<\/p>\n
The push to diversify is particularly important for a city with a large manufacturing and logistics sector.<\/p>\n
Brown said U.S. tariffs are already increasing costs, disrupting production and making businesses more cautious about investment. Brampton\u2019s automotive sector has been especially hard hit, with the Stellantis car assembly plant sitting idle since December 2023.<\/p>\n
The mayor has repeatedly called for the plant to return to production and said the city has taken steps to ensure the property remains tied to automotive manufacturing.<\/p>\n
At the same time, Brampton is trying to position itself for new opportunities in industries that may be less dependent on the traditional auto supply chain.<\/p>\n
Brown said the city is actively speaking with major defence companies about potentially bringing production to Brampton, including light armoured vehicles, ammunition and military drones.<\/p>\n
The city is also promoting Brampton\u2019s aerospace and defence capabilities as Ottawa increases spending in those areas.<\/p>\n
Brampton Steel, for example, has been identified as a supplier for Canada\u2019s planned $11.3-billion investment in six new Coast Guard icebreakers.<\/p>\n
A. Berger, a Brampton manufacturing company, is another example of the shift. Once entirely focused on automotive parts, the company is now moving into defence and aerospace, with non-automotive work expected to account for 15 to 20 per cent of its business this year, according to Brown.<\/p>\n
The mayor said diversification is not about abandoning the U.S. market.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love Americans,\u201d Brown said, describing them as Canada\u2019s closest neighbours and friends. His criticism, he added, is directed at U.S. President Donald Trump\u2019s tariff policies, which he called misguided and reckless.<\/p>\n
Brown said he has also been speaking directly to Americans through U.S. television and radio appearances, arguing that tariffs will ultimately hurt American consumers and businesses as well.<\/p>\n
But while Brampton waits for the Canada-U.S. trade relationship to stabilize, the city is preparing for a world in which local companies have more choices.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can\u2019t wait 2.5 years for a new administration,\u201d Brown said during the question period, stressing the need to create jobs and find opportunities now.<\/p>\n
For Brampton, that means looking farther afield for customers, investors and industries that can help keep the local economy moving even when the city\u2019s biggest trading partner becomes less predictable.<\/p>\n