U.S. auto tariffs bring uncertainty for N.S. communities with tire plants

Many people in Bridgewater, N.S., are worried about the impact of tariffs on the tire plant in their community.

Most of the small talk in Lincoln Barbershop revolves around a different president these days.

Donald Trump’s tariffs are creating a buzz in the Town of Bridgewater, which is home to one of three Michelin Tire plants in Nova Scotia.

“It’s a big money provider. It’s jobs, plus jobs,” says resident Murray Crouse.

Almost 4,000 people are employed between the operations in Bridgewater, Waterville and Pictou.

Twelve-hundred work in Bridgewater alone. Total tire shipments to the U.S. are $1.3 billion, making in the province’s number one export.

Barber Clarence Armstrong estimates 30-to-40 per cent of his customers work at the Michelin plant.

“I’m noticing with our clientele, they have job security, which is one of the things that allows them to spend more money here with us,” he says.

The Michelin plant has been in Bridgewater for more than 50 years. It was the first tire plant the company opened outside of Europe.

“It’s almost 10,000 indirect jobs. Restaurants, retail, trucking, gas stations, service shops. One-hundred trucks a day come and go from that plant,” Mayor David Mitchell says. “If you think about even if you remove 25 per cent of those trucks from the road, those are families, right? That’s less fuel, less servicing, a whole bunch of things trickle down for sure.”

With Trump imposing a 25 per cent levy as a way to encourage manufacturing to migrate to the States, some are on edge.

“I’m not actually worried about the plant moving south,” says Mitchell. “I’m more worried about a slow down if Americans choose to buy cheaper, inferior quality products.”

“It’s going to lessen the stimulus of money through the whole community here so if it slows down, if it curtails it, it’s work activity. We’re going to see perhaps job reductions,” Crouse says.

Any slowdown in production would be felt deep in the community.

“It’ll hurt local businesses,” says Armstrong.

After meeting with the big three automakers, Trump has put a one month pause on parts. At the moment, Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston says it’s unclear if that includes tires.

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