Canada
April 23, 2026
USW Canada presses Parliament for stronger steel protections
Written by Kristen DiLandro
Dozens of United Steelworkers (USW) Canada labor union members lobbied federal politicians in Ottawa, Ontario, on Thursday, April 23.
As part of the union’s two-day Stand Up for Steel Conference, dozens of members ascended on Parliament Hill.
According to a statement, USW members presented politicians with specific recommendations for supporting Canada’s steel producers, workers, and communities.
The union said it seeks relief from the devastating job losses caused by US tariffs and trade policies.
“The threats to our steel sector and the tens of thousands of jobs and communities it supports cannot be overstated,” said USW National Director Marty Warren.
Warren added, “The federal government has taken a number of important steps to protect the Canadian steel industry. However, greater action is needed to confront the challenges created by unprecedented global trade upheaval.”
To mitigate the impact of US tariffs on Canadian steel, the country retooled its programs and ramped up steel protections.
By expanding eligibility to the Large Enterprise Tariff Loan (LETL) program in 2025, Algoma Steel gained access to CA$400 million from the federal government and CA$100 million from Ontario (~US$370 million).
Additionally, Canada tightened its steel tariff-rate quota. The measure deterred transshipments of cheap steel intended for the US from flooding the Canadian market.
Canada enacted a new surtax to thwart melted-and-poured Chinese steel from entering its market. The surcharge applies to steel from countries that use Chinese melted-and-poured steel, too.
“Steelworkers and their communities need our government to stand up for Canadian steel, and stand up for Canadian jobs,” the USW insisted.
