Trade Cases
Canadian USW Urges Continued Safeguards Due to U.S Steel Tariffs
Written by Sandy Williams
January 16, 2019
With no end in sight for U.S.-imposed steel tariffs, United Steelworkers in Canada urge the federal government to keep safeguards in place to guard against foreign steel imports.
“Our members themselves are appearing this month before the Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) to make the case for extending safeguard measures beyond the original 200-day period that began in October,” said Ken Neumann, USW National Director for Canada.
“The need to extend the safeguards is compounded by the continuing unfair, U.S.-imposed, 25-percent tariffs on Canadian steel,” he said. “The Liberal government has so far failed in its efforts to end this attack on Canadian jobs in a critical industry.”
Neumann blamed Section 232 tariffs imposed in March by the United States for an “abnormal” increase in foreign steel imports into Canada.
“Of course, we must rigorously defend our steel industry from a glut of foreign steel made cheap because of labour, human rights and environmental exploitation,” said Neumann. “We need safeguards to ensure the stability of the steel market and to dampen the effects of Trump’s tariffs.
“Beyond that, a more permanent and rational approach to steel trade is what is needed most, starting with the integrated North American market and the removal of tariffs based on a bogus charge of Canada being a threat to U.S. national security.”
USW members from Algoma Steel Inc., Stelco, Ivaco, Tenaris, ArcelorMittal, Nova Tube, Evraz and AltaSteel are attending the CITT Ottawa hearings, which are scheduled to end on Jan. 24.
Sandy Williams
Read more from Sandy WilliamsLatest in Trade Cases
Price: Expect new trade shocks as Trump’s ‘reciprocal’ tariff negotiations continue
President Trump cast a wide net with the proposed, reciprocal tariffs. The negotiating stage will be critical to determining the success of his strategy. And for those suffering tariff whiplash, don’t expect the pace of change to slow down just because the reciprocal tariffs are entering a negotiating phase.
SMU Survey: Less support seen for Trump tariff policies
Meanwhile, an increasing number think it's too early to say whether the penalties are going to bring more manufacturing to the US.
CRU: USW seeks exclusion for Canada from Trump’s tariffs
The union is also urging stronger enforcement against countries such as China which break trade rules, and a coordinated Canada-US strategy to protect union jobs across the North America
Price on trade: A lot happened last week – and it wasn’t all about tariffs
Should foreign investment be allowed to reshape the American steel Industry? Not to be lost in the recent on-again-off-again tariff frenzy, Nippon Steel’s proposed takeover of U.S. Steel has also found itself in President Trump’s crosshairs when it comes to trade and industrial policy. Nippon Steel initially announced its nearly $15-billion bid for U.S. Steel […]
Trump signs executive order aimed at making US shipbuilding ‘great again’
President Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order meant to breathe new life into American shipbuilding and curb Chinese dominance in the sector.