The Communist Party USA Labor Commission convened a meeting on February 20, bringing together workers from CPUSA, the Communist Party of Canada, and Popular Socialist Party of Mexico to analyze the impact of Trump’s belligerent policies and strategize for worker-to-worker solidarity.

The meeting emphasized the interconnected struggles of workers across North America, particularly in industries like automotive manufacturing, where supply chains span multiple borders.

Elizabeth Rowley of the Communist Party of Canada highlighted the need for cross-border unity to resist U.S. protectionist policies, which she argued prioritize U.S. corporate profits over workers’ rights.

C.J. Atkins of People’s World noted that Trump’s tariffs are a symptom of deeper capitalist crises, aimed at shifting blame rather than addressing systemic issues.

Cuauhtémoc Amezcua Dromundo of Partido Popular Socialista de México provided historical context, explaining how tariffs once protected developing economies, but are now wielded by the U.S. as tools of economic coercion. He and others criticized neoliberal “free trade” agreements like NAFTA, which have devastated workers in all three countries by enabling corporate exploitation, outsourcing, and the erosion of labor rights. In Mexico, these policies led to deindustrialization and mass migration, while in the U.S. and Canada, they accelerated job losses, weakened unions, and increased economic inequality.

The meeting also addressed the broader implications of Trump’s trade wars, warning that economic conflicts could escalate into geopolitical tensions. Participants called for international worker solidarity to resist both protectionist and neoliberal trade policies, which they argued serve the interests of the capitalist class at the expense of the working class. The event concluded with a call to action: workers must unite to challenge the capitalist system and reclaim control over their economic futures.

Image: Cuauhtémoc Amezcua Dromundo, member of the National Directorate of the Partido Popular Socialista de México (amezcuadf.wordpress.com) / Liz Rowley, Leader of the Communist Party of Canada (votecommunist.com) / C.J. Atkins, member of the National Board of the CPUSA (People’s World)