The Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) responded to recent comments by federal environment minister Steven Guilbeault by warning the feds to “not go it alone” on GHG regulations for heavy-duty trucks.

Guilbeault had said publicly the U.S. election results will not impact Canada’s commitment to implementing its climate plans. U.S. EPA regulations affecting heavy-duty engines are set to require another aggressive step in NOx reduction in 2027 but the recent election of Donald Trump has some questioning whether those standards will be changed or delayed.

The CTA reminds that in October, Environment and Climate Change Canada in a stakeholder meeting said it would broadly align with U.S. EPA emissions regulations affecting vehicles including heavy trucks.

The alliance is also saying that moving forward with Canadian regulations in the absence of clarity on how the new U.S. administration will deal with current regs would not be sensible.

“The Government of Canada has continuously reiterated they understand the challenges of shifting towards zero-emission alternatives in the heavy truck sector, and we remain confident this mutual understanding and commitment will be recognized as we move forward,” says Stephen Laskowski, President, CTA.

“Any decisions to proceed unilaterally in the absence of U.S. EPA GHG rules remaining in place, would put Canadian trucking operators and equipment manufacturers at a significant competitive disadvantage. Canada needs to work with the Trump administration to understand how it will approach heavy duty truck emission regulation in the U.S.”