Despite a year of political sparring, the United Auto Workers (UAW) has emerged as one of the few auto industry players supporting former President Donald Trump’s proposed 25 percent tariffs on vehicle imports from Mexico and Canada. The move underscores a longstanding union opposition to free trade and signals the UAW’s determination to influence industrial policy — regardless of who occupies the White House.
From Hostility to Cooperation
UAW President Shawn Fain spent much of 2024 blasting Trump, calling him a “scab” and warning his return to power would be catastrophic for the working class. Yet, when Trump announced steep tariffs that analysts warn could severely damage the Detroit 3’s profitability, Fain backed them — a surprising pivot that reveals deeper strategic intentions.
Opposition to Free Trade, Not Just Trump
Fain’s support for tariffs is less about Trump and more about rejecting the free trade deals the union believes gutted American manufacturing. From NAFTA to the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the UAW has consistently opposed trade policies it views as favoring corporate profits over domestic jobs.
“The endgame is to bring manufacturing to the U.S.,” said labor relations expert Marick Masters of Wayne State University. Fain echoed this position in a Washington Post op-ed, writing that tariffs should “bring jobs back to America” and encourage companies to “invest in good jobs, not exploit workers abroad.”
Tariffs as a Political Lever
The UAW sees tariffs as a practical tool to reverse what it considers decades of worker exploitation caused by globalized supply chains. In a March 4 statement, the union called tariffs “a powerful tool for undoing the injustice of anti-worker trade deals,” and signaled it was already in negotiations with Trump’s administration to shape the upcoming April trade actions in workers’ favor.
Appealing to Pro-Tariff Union Members
There’s also a political calculus at play. Many UAW members supported Trump — and Fain’s openness to working with the administration sends a signal that their voices are being heard. Masters noted that “it is the leadership’s job to reflect the sentiment of the membership,” and supporting tariffs allows Fain to do just that, even while maintaining his criticism of Trump’s broader agenda.
Internal Tensions and Trade Alliances
Fain’s embrace of Trump-era trade tactics has not been universally welcomed within the broader labor movement. The Canadian auto union Unifor, traditionally aligned with the UAW, expressed discomfort with the U.S. union’s tariff support. Unifor President Lana Payne said she hadn’t spoken with Fain in weeks and emphasized the collaborative nature of the North American auto industry.
“We make things together,” Payne said, highlighting a long history of cross-border labor cooperation. The tariffs could strain that relationship, potentially setting U.S. and Canadian auto workers on divergent paths.
Consistency in Economic Strategy
The UAW’s current position is not a deviation but a continuation of its anti-globalization posture. Even under the Biden administration, the union lobbied to increase the 2.5 percent tariff on passenger vehicles from countries with “most favored nation” status — arguing that the rate was too low to deter offshoring.
Though Fain initially campaigned against Trump and advocated for Democratic leadership — particularly ahead of the 2026 review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement — he has made it clear that his primary goal is to shape policy in favor of American workers.
Looking Ahead
Trump’s broader tariff strategy, set to be unveiled on April 2, is being framed by the former president as a “Liberation Day” from exploitative trade deals. While details remain fluid, insiders expect a targeted approach with possible country-specific exemptions. Trump himself hinted that some trading partners “may get breaks” from the new tariffs.
The UAW intends to be at the table when those decisions are made. “We look forward to working with the White House to shape the auto tariffs in April to benefit the working class,” the union said.
In a political landscape where party lines around trade are increasingly blurred, the UAW’s support for Trump’s tariffs may seem contradictory. But for Fain and the union leadership, it represents continuity — not in politics, but in principle.
