(Toronto) A limited strike by auto workers in the United States is expected to affect the sector in Canada, as the two countries’ industries are deeply integrated.

About 13,000 American workers went on strike Friday at the three major American automakers after failing to agree on a new contract.

Members of the United Auto Workers union began protesting outside a General Motors assembly plant in Wentzville, Mo., a Ford plant in Wayne, Mich., near Detroit, and a Stellantis Jeep plant in Toledo, Mo. Ohio.

Automakers rely on operations and suppliers in Canada and the United States as components cross the border before being assembled into a finished vehicle.

The strike comes as Unifor conducts contract negotiations in Canada with American automakers.

The Canadian union is in negotiations with Ford Motor before its contract expires on September 18. Unifor hopes a deal with Ford can serve as a model for workers at other automakers.