Two manufacturing companies have scrapped plant projects in London, Ont., as U.S. President Donald Trump’s threatened high tariffs loom.

China-based Maple Armor Group and local drugmaker Anvo Pharma both reversed course on planned facilities in the city, citing economic uncertainty stemming from U.S. trade policies. Anvo’s project was under construction and is now being listed for sale through CBRE.

Hours after his inauguration Monday, Trump told reporters that his administration could implement a threatened 25% on Canada. He has also vowed to impose a similar penalty on Mexico.

Maple Armor, which manufactures residential, commercial, and industrial alarm systems, had planned to build a plant on a14-acre lot in London’s Innovation Park, the London Free Press reported.

The company, which already operates a facility in Brossard, Que., intended to use the new Ontario location to expand into the U.S. market. However, the firm has now abandoned the London project and plans to expand its Quebec operations.

“We pulled out,” Harry Yang, Maple Armor’s chief operations advisor, told the Free Press. “There’s too much uncertainty. If we were to build a bigger plant here, we would need to sell into the U.S. It’s too chaotic right now. It’s better for us to take a safe approach.”

In an interview with the Free Press, Kapil Lakhotia, the London Economic Development Corporation’s CEO, called the cancellation a “lost opportunity.”

Maple Armor’s cancelled project would have included a 60,000-square-foot plant employing approximately 50 people. Anvo’s London facility was initially intended for pharmaceutical research and development, with potential for expansion in the future, according to the Free Press.

Meanwhile, Anvo and CBRE have set a $10.5-million asking price for the pharmaceutical firm’s partially built facility on Bonder Road in the Advanced Manufacturing Park. The company has now listed the 61,011-square-foot plant for sale at $10.5 million and has pledged to repay a $3.2-million a federal loan, according to the Free Press.

(The federal government announced in 2023 that it was providing Anvo with a $4-million loan to develop the plant. It is not clear why the Free Press is reporting the lower $3.2-million figure.)

Citing unidentified sources, the Free Press reported that Anvo ran into financial issues and could not complete the project.

“It’s rare and unfortunate when a company changes course mid-project due to changing business pressures,” Lakhotia told the Free Press. “We understand they’re exploring several options. They’re searching for strategic partners, talking to investors.”

Jason Bates, manager of the London Region Manufacturing Council, told the Free Press that local manufacturers are wary about the impact of the potential U.S. tariffs.

“There’s a high level of concern, he told the Free Press. “The unknown is scary in business and there are no answers out there right now. It will be a barrier to the U.S. market. It could be huge.”

The Trump administration’s proposed tariff would see U.S. importers paying an additional 25% on Canadian-made goods. The added costs would be passed on to consumers.

“The U.S. is our biggest trading partner and given the number of companies in Canada that supply food, auto parts, building products and medical devices,” Lakhotia told the Free Press. “There will be a negative impact. It’s the front-and-centre issue for manufacturers right now.”

Pictured: Partially built Anvo Pharma plant in London, Ont.

Photo: CBRE