The United Steelworkers union (USW) is calling on the federal government to respond decisively to U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to impose a 25 per cent tariff on all steel and aluminum imports, warning that the move threatens thousands of Canadian jobs and could disrupt supply chains.
Marty Warren, USW National Director for Canada, said the tariffs would destabilize industries and create economic uncertainty on both sides of the border. “Trump’s tariffs are a direct attack on workers and communities,” Warren said. “We’ve been through this before, and we know these kinds of reckless trade measures don’t work. They hurt workers, destabilize industries, and create uncertainty across the economy.”
The Canada-U.S. steel and aluminum industries are closely linked. Canada imports 39 per cent of its steel from the U.S. while exporting 94 per cent of its production south. In 2024, Canada exported $15.9 billion worth of aluminum to the U.S. and imported $4.1 billion in return. Canadian and American manufacturers rely heavily on this trade, with steel alone accounting for $20 billion in cross-border commerce each year.
With no indication that Canada will be exempted from the new tariffs, Warren urged Ottawa to impose immediate counter-tariffs, increase support for affected workers and industries, and commit to using Canadian steel and aluminum in public infrastructure projects. He also warned that without safeguard measures, Canada could see an influx of low-cost steel and aluminum from countries unable to access the U.S. market, further harming domestic producers.
“If these tariffs move forward, the government must be ready to hit back just as hard and be ready to face the consequences of this new chapter in the crisis on jobs,” Warren said. “For years, we’ve pushed for domestic procurement policies to ensure taxpayer dollars support Canadian jobs and industries. It’s a shame that this still hasn’t happened, but the government can’t afford to ignore it any longer.”
USW International President Dave McCall also condemned Trump’s decision, saying a similar tariff imposed in 2018 had already proven ineffective. “Canada is not the problem, and these tariffs will only hurt workers on both sides of the border,” McCall said. “Instead of reckless trade wars, we need policies that strengthen manufacturing and protect good jobs in both countries.”
The USW said it will continue pressing all levels of government to defend Canadian workers and mitigate the impact of the tariffs on the steel and aluminum industries.
