**Canada**: The Canadian economy’s heavy reliance on U.S. trade is under scrutiny as rising protectionism poses significant risks. Scholars urge enhancing domestic manufacturing and the ‘right to repair’ movement as key strategies to build resilience and mitigate vulnerabilities in sectors crucial for food security and healthcare.
Canada’s economy, long reliant on open trade and cross-border supply chains, is currently facing significant vulnerabilities due to rising market protectionism and tariff threats from the United States, as articulated by Anthony D. Rosborough, an Assistant Professor of Law and Computer Science at Dalhousie University. He emphasises that while tensions over tariffs have momentarily eased, the potential for a trade war remains a pressing concern.
In 2023, statistics revealed that 77 per cent of Canada’s exports were directed to the U.S., while close to half of its imports originated from that country. This interdependence, once celebrated as a diplomatic achievement, is now being scrutinised for the risks it poses to Canadian economic stability. Rosborough highlights critical imports, such as farm machinery, medical devices, and home appliances, which could become harder to access or more expensive should trade tensions escalate.
Political leaders across various party lines acknowledge the urgent need to bolster Canada’s economic resilience. Proposals for doing so include strengthening domestic manufacturing, diversifying trade, and building new diplomatic and economic partnerships. This strategy would comprise cultivating workforce resilience and domestic innovation to mitigate reliance on imported goods.
Central to this discussion is the ‘right to repair’ movement, which seeks to ensure that consumers and independent repair entities can access the required parts, tools, and information to repair essential products. This movement extends beyond consumer electronics to critical sectors such as agriculture and healthcare, where machinery and medical devices are predominantly imported and face numerous barriers to maintenance.
Specifically, Canada’s agricultural sector depends heavily on U.S. imports for machinery management essential for food security. Such equipment often presents repair challenges due to restrictive legal and technical barriers. Similarly, the healthcare system imports around 70 per cent of its medical devices, with issues arising as biomedical engineers encounter a complex tapestry of restrictions that push them towards exclusive service contracts.
The right to repair presents a pathway not only to bolster environmental sustainability by extending product lifespans but also to foster economic resilience by creating jobs and enhancing productivity within local communities. Recent legislative efforts, such as Bill C-59, which amends the Competition Act to address manufacturers’ reluctance to provide necessary resources for repairs, indicate progress. Furthermore, amendments to the Copyright Act in 2024 allow repairers to bypass digital locks that restrict access to diagnostic information.
However, Rosborough asserts that substantial work remains. Provincial governments are urged to enhance consumer protection laws to eliminate planned obsolescence and ensure manufacturers allow for repairs without voiding warranties. While Québec has taken steps in this direction, coordinated efforts across provinces are essential for a cohesive strategy.
At the federal level, Rosborough calls for regulations governing repair restrictions in critical technology sectors such as agriculture and healthcare. Establishing technical standards and a repairability index that can inform consumers on the reparability of products is also suggested as critical for fostering a more resilient economy.
Advancing the right to repair is presented as a cost-free move that can strengthen Canada’s economic posture amidst trade uncertainties, by empowering consumers and independent businesses. By fostering a culture of repair over replacement, Canada could maximise the value of its existing goods, reduce dependence on unpredictable global supply chains, and enhance overall self-sufficiency.
Source: Noah Wire Services
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