The Globe and Mail reports in its Wednesday, Oct. 28, edition that a pending United States tariff increase on Canadian steel and auto imports starting Jan. 1 would be "catastrophic" for the industry, said Honda corporate affairs chief Jennifer Thomas. A Reuters dispatch to The Globe reports that automakers are monitoring U.S., Mexico and Canada trade talks, hoping to extend a key deal. The auto industries in these countries are interconnected, and higher tariffs could increase costs and influence where companies like Honda establish new plants. Ms. Thomas said: "We need that trilateral agreement to stay in place in order for the U.S. industry to be competitive. It's integral to our success." The auto industry has been grappling with tariffs since early 2025, when President Donald Trump's administration placed varying tariff rates on imports from multiple countries, including Mexico and Canada. "I am cautiously optimistic that cooler heads will prevail, and we will avoid that Jan. 1 doubling of the tariffs, because that really would be catastrophic just for the entire industry," Ms. Thomas said. The U.S. and Canada are working on a deal to ease U.S. tariffs on Canadian steel and autos, Reuters reported on Monday.