May 2 (Reuters) - General Motors' ( GM ) Oshawa Assembly

plant in Canada, which builds pickup trucks, will cut back to a

two-shift schedule from three due to softening demand and

trade-related challenges, the company and the union representing

workers said on Friday.

U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff policies have rattled

the automotive industry, forcing them to rethink where they

source their parts from as well as production output.

The Oshawa plant assembles light and heavy-duty Chevrolet

Silverado pickup trucks for the North American market. These

vehicles are also assembled at factories in the U.S. and Mexico.

Unifor, which represents about 3,000 members at the Detroit

automaker's Oshawa assembly plant, said GM's decision to reduce

operations was "reckless".

GM is increasing production output at its light-duty truck

plant in Fort Wayne, Indiana, which Reuters first reported.

It intends to reduce Oshawa truck exports to the U.S. and

recalibrate the plant for Canadian sales, starting in the fall.

The automaker said the move would impact around 700

employees but did not provide any further details. GM said it

would work with partners to support employees through the

transition.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford on Friday called the announcement

"extremely tough" for impacted employees.

Last month, GM said it would temporarily halt production of

electric commercial vans at its assembly plant in Ontario and

temporarily lay off some workers over slow sales.