Canada: Freedom Convoy Protests Force GM, Toyota To Suspend Operations, White House Expresses Concern Over Blockade Of Ambassador Bridge

The ongoing protest by Freedom Convoy, an ongoing popular movement in Canada against policies of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau-led government, has disrupted the operations of major automobile manufacturers in Canada and U.S.

Automakers including Toyota, GM and Ford in both as they announced suspended of production at some of their plants in U.S and Canada due to shortage of car parts.

Earlier this week, Freedom Convoy blockaded one of the busiest commercial bridges on a crucial trade route between two countries.

A massive convoy of protesting trucks continued to create huge traffic gridlock along the Ambassador bridge that connects Windsor in Canada to Detroit in U.S. This trade route facilitates 25 percent of all U.S.-Canada trade and daily estimated goods trade through this route is estimated at $300 million.

The mayor of Windsor, a Canadian border city, moved to the court seeking an order to forcibly remove the protesters. The City of Windsor has formally requested additional resources from the federal government

While Toyota announced that it is suspending production at all its three plants in Canada and Kentucky until Saturday, GM said that its plant in Lansing, Michigan was forced to cancelled part of its factory work schedule due to the ongoing protest. Ford, which operates two plants in Canda, warned of impending supply bottlenecks.

The White House said that it was closely monitoring the situation along the border.

"We are also monitoring very closely and engaged with auto companies on what the impacts could be of auto parts, which is what — what would come from Canada and the impact on the United States." White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters.

"We’re also looking — tracking potential disruptions to U.S. agricultural exports from Michigan into Canada." she added

Psaki said that U.S Customs and Border Protection team is working with Canadian counterparts to reroute traffic from Ambassador Bridge to Blue Water Bridge.

"There is still a lengthy delay, but it is enabling some of these trucks and transports to get through." she added.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer also called for early end to the blockade saying that it is threatening the livelihoods of Michigan families.

Meanwhile Trudeau continued his attack in protests by truckers around the country calling it "unacceptable".

Speaking to parliament in Ottawa, he defended the Covid restrictions that have prompted truckers to converge on the nation's capital.

Trudeau is also facing increasing criticism from within his own party over his handling of the protests. A parliamentarian from his own Liberal party criticised prime minister for "demonising" groups that disagree with Covid mandates.

Also Read: Canada: Freedom Convoy Blocks Major Route Along U.S. Border That Facilitates 25 Percent Of U.S.-Canada Trade, Exacerbates Supply Chain Crisis