If you’ve cracked open a can of soup, bought a Coke, or stepped into your trusty Ford truck lately, there’s a good chance a growing part of it was actually made in Canada. Not that anyone told you.
At OneGripp we usually shine a light on what’s happening in your neighborhood. But today, we’re pulling back the curtain on something happening across the border that’s quietly affecting workers, consumers, and communities here at home.
Because while we’ve all heard about American jobs going overseas, what’s happening in 2025 isn’t a dramatic exit. It’s a slow, quiet shift north. And unless we start paying attention, it could change what “Made in America” really means.
Why Are U.S. Companies Moving to Canada?
It’s not about patriotism. It’s about math.
Big-name American companies—Ford, Tesla, Campbell Soup, Amazon, and more—are redirecting billions of dollars in investment to Canada. And they’re doing it quietly.
The reason? Canada now offers what many say the U.S. no longer can:
- Cheap, clean hydroelectric power
- Fast-tracked building permits
- Stable trade policies and less political uncertainty
Meanwhile, the U.S. is grappling with:
- Rising tariffs (especially on metals and manufacturing materials)
- Energy grid failures
- Labor strikes and unrest
- Slow, often inconsistent permitting and regulation
The result? A slow but steady wave of jobs, production, and innovation moving just over the border.
10 American Companies Making the Move North
Here are some of the biggest—and least talked about—shifts happening now:
1. Ford invested $3.6 billion into new EV and battery facilities in Ontario, adding 2,000 Canadian jobs while restructuring U.S. factories.
2. Coca-Cola opened a solar-powered bottling plant in Ontario after aluminum tariffs and corn syrup costs made U.S. operations less viable.
3. General Motors expanded in Ontario and Quebec while laying off workers in Ohio and Indiana.
4. Intel is growing R&D operations in Canada, attracted by faster permitting and tech partnerships, as U.S. facilities face delays.
5. Tesla is building an EV battery plant in Canada and slowing progress in its Nevada and Texas facilities.
6. Amazon opened major fulfillment centers in Alberta and Ontario, shifting cloud expansion to Toronto and Montreal.
7. IBM invested $1.2 billion into Canadian AI and quantum hubs due to better access to talent and lower operating costs.
8. Procter & Gamble moved aerosol and foil packaging operations to Ontario, reducing U.S. shifts and contracts.
9. Alcoa cut smelter output in Texas while locking in a 15-year hydroelectric deal in Quebec.
10. Campbell Soup shifted can packaging operations to Canada after aluminum tariffs caused a $90 million quarterly spike in costs.
What This Means for U.S. Communities
This isn’t just about factories—this is about the towns, people, and systems built around them.
When Ford moves production to Canada, it’s not just Michigan that suffers. It’s the thousands of truck drivers, suppliers, and small businesses that depend on that ecosystem.
Already, in just the first half of 2025:
- Over $19.7 billion in corporate investment has moved to Canada
- U.S. factory output dropped 8.4%
- Unemployment is rising in key states like Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio
- Local tax bases are shrinking, leading to cuts in education, infrastructure, and healthcare
And unlike short-term layoffs or supply hiccups, these moves are often permanent. Once a company rebuilds its supply chain abroad, it rarely brings it back.
Is It Too Late to Stop the Shift?
Not necessarily. But the U.S. needs to restore something critical: confidence.
Right now, companies are leaving not because they’re unpatriotic—but because they’re unsure. They don’t trust that the energy grid will stay on. They don’t trust that they can get permits in time. They don’t trust that today’s trade policies will still be standing tomorrow.
Until we address those core concerns, the exodus will continue—not with headlines, but with quiet announcements and shrinking job boards.
What Can You Do?
This may feel like a 10,000-foot issue—but it affects your everyday life.
If your town has lost jobs… if your grocery bill has gone up… if the factory down the road is quieter than it used to be… this is part of the story.
We believe knowledge is power. That’s why we want to hear from you:
- Have you seen signs of these shifts in your area?
- Do you work in an industry being affected?
- Do you think the U.S. can still compete in manufacturing and tech?
When local communities start speaking up, even the biggest companies—and politicians—have to listen.