Canadian industry decries tariffs as economic attack in Trump-imposed trade war

Likewise, the Canadian steel industry denounced the tariffs as “completely unwarranted.” Combined with next week’s reinstatement of the 25% Section 232 tariffs, Canadian steel could soon face a 50% levy on its shipments to the US.

That rate is comparable to the worst actors in the global steel trade, namely China, according to Catherine Cobden, president and CEO of the Canadian Steel Producers Association (CSPA).

“It is completely shocking for the United States to treat a long-time and fair trading partner in this manner,” Cobden said.

CSPA praised Canada’s retaliatory tariffs but said the Canadian government at all levels needs to do more to support the steel industry.

“Steel must be included at the same tariff level as the United States for all products moving forward,” Cobden urged.

CSPA is also pushing for Canada to extend its tariff regime on China, other countries, and derivative products and for a Buy Canada approach to be adopted at all levels of the government.

Canadian workers condemn tariff attack

Unions in Canada blasted the tariffs as an “economic attack” on workers and an “economic call-to-arms” for all Canadians.

“This is an all-out attack on Canadian workers, their families and the industries that keep our economy running,” said Marty Warren, United Steelworkers’ national director for Canada, noting that the tariffs don’t have the best interest of American workers either.

“This reckless decision threatens jobs, risks devastating the Canadian communities that rely on them and will disrupt the supply chains on which North America depends,” Warren warned.

Warren’s frustrations were echoed by USW International President David McCall: “These tariffs will hurt manufacturing, drive up costs and kill jobs on both sides of the border. Our whole union stands in full solidarity with our Canadian members, as all across the USW, we fight for real solutions to unfair trade,” he stated.

The union called for immediate retaliatory tariffs on American goods “to match the scale of this attack.”

“This isn’t just about steel or aluminum, like it was in 2018. Trump is now going after every sector of the Canadian economy,” Warren added. “Lumber, energy, manufacturing – you name it. He’s trying to crush Canadian workers and force our government into submission. Well, we won’t be intimidated.”

Unifor, Canada’s largest private sector union, called the tariffs “an economic call-to-arms for Canada.”

“Trump has fired the first shot in a full-on trade war and now every Canadian politician, business leader, worker and resident must fight back,” stated Unifor National President Lana Payne. “Trump has seriously misjudged the resolve and unity of Canadians, and he has misjudged how damaging this trade war will be for American workers.”

She said the tariffs will cause inflation, destroy jobs on both sides of the US-Canada border, and “have devastating consequences for highly integrated manufacturing sectors, including auto, across Canada and the U.S.”

Payne summed up the significance of Trump’s actions on Tuesday: “Today our trade relationship forever changed with the US and now we must invest in ourselves, redefine international trade relationships, and build a new, more resilient economy.”