Canada’s steel industry is calling for immediate government action after the United States announced a fresh round of tariffs under the Trump administration, including a 25 per cent duty on Canadian steel exports.
The Canadian Steel Producers Association (CSPA) said the new measures — enacted March 12 — threaten to destabilize long-standing cross-border supply chains and undermine jobs on both sides of the border. The tariffs also extend to Canadian aluminium, automobiles, and auto parts.
“These tariffs will be damaging on both sides of the border, disrupting supply chains, impacting investments and leading to job losses,” said Catherine Cobden, CSPA president and CEO, in a statement Thursday.
Call for urgent border protections
Cobden said the Canadian government must respond with strict border measures to address unfairly traded steel and to reduce the country’s dependence on the U.S. market.
“To recapture the Canadian market for our industry, our workers and our communities, Canada will need to recalibrate its relationship with the United States,” she said. “We call on the Canadian government, and all political parties, to support the immediate adoption of these border measures.”
The CSPA warned the escalating trade actions could jeopardize an economic relationship that has historically benefited both countries. The Canadian and U.S. economies are deeply integrated, with goods — including steel — moving back and forth daily to support manufacturing, energy, infrastructure, and transportation.
Industry impact across North America
The CSPA represents all of Canada’s primary steel producers, as well as major steel consumers in key sectors such as automotive, energy, and construction. Its members support thousands of jobs and contribute significantly to the North American economy.
The association said the latest U.S. actions are a step backward for international trade norms and will add pressure on an already strained global steel market.
