Mississauga Business leaders gathered to discuss actionable ways the City can provide meaningful support as impacts of American tariffs and Canadian counter-tariffs are felt.
March 27, 2025
Today, Mississauga Mayor Carolyn Parrish hosted the inaugural Partners in Trade roundtable, bringing together business leaders from Mississauga’s key growth sectors – life sciences, advanced manufacturing (including automotive and aerospace), and technology. The discussions focused on the impacts of American tariffs and Canadian counter-tariffs on local businesses and explored actionable ways the City can provide meaningful support during this challenging period.
Participants discussed opportunities for City-led initiatives and alignment with federal and provincial governments as part of the Team Canada approach. The insights gained from the roundtable will directly inform the City’s broader response plan, Mississauga Partners in Trade, aimed at strengthening economic resilience, safeguarding jobs, and enhancing competitiveness for the future.
“Mississauga is Ontario’s second-largest economy and home to more than 100,000 businesses employing more than 500,000 people. These numbers reflect the strength and importance of our City, which makes today’s discussion all the more essential. Partners in Trade is about leveraging our collective expertise and resources to navigate these challenges together and deliver meaningful support where it’s needed most. Now more than ever, it’s important that we remain connected and work collaboratively to support our businesses. The City of Mississauga will continue to advocate for our businesses, ensuring their needs are heard and addressed at all levels of government.”
The discussions highlighted the importance of maintaining cross-border relationships and dialogue, advocating for federal and provincial support, and streamlining local processes to better support businesses. Participants emphasized the need for collaboration between governments, businesses, and communities to enhance competitiveness and drive economic growth, identifying key areas for advocacy such as financial support for impacted businesses through provincial and federal programs, addressing interprovincial trade barriers, and ensuring alignment across all levels of government under the Team Canada approach. Mayor Parrish reaffirmed her commitment to ensuring Mississauga businesses are heard and advocated for on behalf of the City.
The roundtable marks the beginning of an ongoing dialogue between the City and its business community, reaffirming Mississauga’s commitment to being a strong partner in fostering a resilient local economy.