Canada’s largest railway, which employs 24,000 people in Canada and the United States, in October cut its profit outlook for 2019, blaming softer demand for much of the freight it hauls. Industrial activity in the United States has slowed and exports have weakened as the tariff war started by U.S. President Donald Trump has upended supply chains and driven up prices. Consumer spending in Canada and the United States has also showed weakness.
CN executives said on an October conference call with stock analysts an unspecified number of job cuts will affect a range of CN departments, from mechanical shops to information technology.