TORONTO, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Unifor has received a

notification from Stellantis ( STLA ) that the company is considering the

closure and sale of its Brampton, Ontario, plant, the president

of the Canadian autoworkers union said on Friday, blaming the

impact of U.S. trade tariffs.

Brampton was closed for retooling in 2024, which Stellantis ( STLA )

paused in 2025 before moving future production of its Jeep

Compass to a factory in Illinois after U.S. President ​Donald

Trump imposed tariffs on Canadian goods.

Unifor will soon negotiate a new contract with Stellantis ( STLA )

that covers Brampton, another assembly plant and a casting

plant. The current contract expires in September.

Unifor President Lana Payne said the company had not provided a

formal closure notice for Brampton but told the union it intends

to open discussions with a firm about the potential sale of the

plant. She declined to name the firm.

"This potential closure highlights the dangerous

repercussions of the ongoing auto tariffs imposed by the Trump

administration," Unifor said in a statement, adding the union

would discuss the matter in upcoming contract negotiations with

Stellantis ( STLA ).

Asked to comment, Stellantis ( STLA ) said it was preparing to enter

the collective bargaining process and had nothing to announce at

this time.

"Our focus remains on finding a sustainable manufacturing

solution for Brampton Assembly," the company said in a

statement.

The Canadian government has pressured Stellantis ( STLA ) to restore

production at the Brampton plant, which employed 2,200 workers

before closing for retooling. A government spokesperson did not

immediately respond to a request for comment.

The U.S. and Canada are working to agree a new trade deal

before a new U.S. tariff deadline hits on August 19.

Stellantis ( STLA ) was previously reported to be discussing options to

build electric vehicles in Canada with its Chinese partner,

Zhejiang Leapmotor Technology. Unifor has expressed serious

concerns about Stellantis ( STLA ) bringing a Chinese partner to make

electric vehicles at the shuttered Brampton plant.