Carney promises C$2 bln fund to boost Canadian auto industry

OTTAWA, March 26 (Reuters) - Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Wednesday said if the ruling Liberals won an April 28 election, his government would create a C$2 billion ($1.40 billion) fund to boost the auto sector's competitiveness.

Carney, speaking to a televised press conference in Windsor, Ontario, also said his government would work with industry to build more car parts in Canada and limit the number of parts that cross the border with the United States during production.

The North American auto industry is highly integrated but now finds itself threatened by tariffs that U.S. President Donald Trump is promising to impose.

Carney, noting the auto sector supported 125,000 jobs directly and almost another 500,000 jobs in related industries, said the new fund would protect workers affected by tariffs.

"It will fortify the entire Canadian auto supply chain, from raw materials to finished vehicles ...we will build an all-in Canada network for auto manufacturing components," he said.

When it came to buying official vehicles for official business, a Liberal government would focus on buying autos that were made in Canada, he added.

($1 = 1.4261 Canadian dollars)