Another week, another round of tariff talk between the U.S. and its trading partners. If you’re wondering what that actually means for your wallet, your car, or your job—let’s break it down.

The U.S. recently reintroduced tariffs (taxes on imports) on certain automotive parts. There was a one-month pause, but that didn’t lead to any real change. Now, Canadian vehicles that use U.S. parts—or even U.S. vehicles made with Canadian or Mexican components—are at a disadvantage compared to cars from Europe or Asia.

As Canadians, we should all care about this because Canada’s auto industry, especially in Ontario, supports over 100,000 jobs. If tariffs make Canadian-made cars more expensive, that could lead to job losses, higher prices, and economic slowdowns.

There are many options as to how we should respond and I’d like to share some of my thoughts:

• Don’t: Tariff U.S. auto parts we depend on.

That would only raise production costs for Canadian carmakers—and hurt us more than the U.S.

• Avoid: A blanket tariff on U.S. vehicles. It would push up car prices in Canada and invite more U.S. retaliation. Plus, some U.S.-made cars still use Canadian parts.

If we’re smart, there are some alternative moves that we can make:

• Incentives to stay.

Offering tax breaks or credits to carmakers to keep plants in Canada could help soften the blow—as long as it doesn’t look like a subsidy that invites more tariffs from the U.S.

• Careful negotiation.

A new U.S. “reciprocal tariff” plan may be more measured than the previously threatened 25% tax on everything. Canada needs to tread carefully and use diplomacy to avoid escalation.

Canadian nationalism is at a multi-year high right now and we can all help, believe it or not — your choices matter. We can buy Canadian-made products, consider non-U.S. travel destinations whenever we are travelling, and support Canadian retailers and auto dealers.

This “vote with your wallet” approach is already happening—and (most importantly) it doesn’t trigger political backlash. In fact, a grassroots consumer shift could do more to influence U.S. economic policy than tariffs alone.

All-in-all, Canada needs to balance firm negotiation with strategic patience. Tariffs are costly for both sides—but consumer behavior, smart policy, and focused diplomacy might be our best bet to get the U.S. to ease off.

The next time you’re deciding where to buy your car—or even where to vacation—remember: your dollar can speak louder than a tariff.