Canada’s largest private-sector union is warning that a U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down tariffs imposed under emergency economic powers law does little to protect Canadian jobs, with more damaging trade measures still firmly in place.
The court ruled that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act does not give President Donald Trump authority to impose sweeping tariffs under a declaration of economic emergency. But Unifor National President Lana Payne said the decision should not be mistaken for a turning point in the trade dispute.
“This ruling exposes how abusive and legally flawed the IEEPA tariffs were, but Canadian workers should not mistake this for a victory,” Payne said. “The risk to Canadian jobs remains severe, with the potential to even increase if Trump looks for new ways to impose tariffs or target Canadian jobs and investment.”
Section 232 tariffs remain in force
Payne said the tariffs posing the greatest threat to Canadian industry were never tied to IEEPA. So-called national security tariffs under Section 232 — targeting the auto, steel, aluminum and wood products sectors — remain in effect and could be expanded.
“The most damaging tariffs Canada faces were never IEEPA tariffs in the first place, because the Trump Administration chose to exempt goods that comply with our trade agreement,” she said. “However, so-called ‘national security’ tariffs under Section 232, targeting auto, steel, aluminum, and wood products remain fully in force and could be expanded at any time.”
U.S. officials have already indicated they intend to reinstate or replace the struck-down tariffs using other legal authorities, according to Unifor.
Softwood lumber dispute continues
The court ruling also has no effect on long-running anti-dumping duties, including the softwood lumber dispute, which Unifor says continues to harm Canadian workers and communities.
Payne called on governments to move beyond reacting to U.S. trade actions and instead build lasting industrial policy. “Protecting workers means developing and implementing strategic industrial policy and investments,” she said.
Unifor represents 320,000 workers in the private sector across major areas of the Canadian economy.
