Contributor: Laura Miller

A year after being blindsided by hefty tariffs from its top trading partner, Canadian steelmakers are renewing their call for tariff-free trade between the US and Canada.

Algoma Steel said the Section 232 tariff shock continues to shape its business model. The 50% US duty effectively shut the company out of its largest export market, forcing a structural pivot toward Canada.

Algoma Steel Inc. added to its mounting losses during the fourth quarter. Sales and shipments plummeted as ongoing trade tensions between Canada and the US force the Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario-based steelmaker to reconfigure its entire business model.

Reliance Inc. announced two big US government contract wins from its wholly-owned subsidiary AMI Metals Inc.

An administrative review of the anti-dumping duty (AD) order on heavy-walled rectangular pipe and tube from Mexico has found evidence of continued dumping by Mexican companies.

Serviacero USA is set to establish its first US manufacturing operation after purchasing a rail-served site at the Gulf Inland Logistics Park in Houston.

The Dodge Momentum Index (DMI) pulled back in February, as planning momentum normalized after a strong second half of 2025.

Oil and gas drilling continued to slow in Canada but remained steady in the US this past week.

Mexico’s Secretary of Economy is conducting ‘Operation Clean-Up,” inspecting suspicious steel companies to verify compliance with rules of origin.

Since the Supreme Court struck down President Trump’s use of IEEPA tariffs, a judge at the Court of International Trade (CIT) has ordered refunds of all IEEPA tariffs. Still, Trump is trying again with a Section 122 global tariff.

The Council on American Steel Trade (CAST) introduces itself as “pro-USA steel manufacturing and is led by trade experts representing every level of the American steel supply chain – from iron ore mining and integrated and mini-mills to processors, downstream steel-derivative producers, and the hardworking men and women of America’s steel workforce.”

CVDs and anti-dumping duties matter when importing steel. Korea often offers very competitive import rates. The importer of record is responsible for paying any ADs, CVDs, or tariffs.

Grupo Acerero SA de CV (GASA) reported increasing shipments at the end of 2025 as the steel producer ramps up a new slab mill in north-central Mexico.

Nucor announced Wednesday the retirement of Executive Vice President of Commercial Daniel R. Needham, effective June 20.

ArcelorMittal Mexico has replaced the transformer on its No. II electric-arc furnace, increasing casting capacity by 18%.

Metalforming manufacturers in the US and Canada expect stable to improving economic conditions in the next three months.

Primary metals, machinery, fabricated metal products, appliances and components, and transportation equipment reported growth in February.

The public bankruptcy auction for the assets of Altos Hornos de Mexico has been postponed.

Oil drilling slowed in the US and Canada last week, while gas drilling inched higher in the US.

Graphite electrodes are critical to electric-arc furnace steelmaking and the production of other non-ferrous metals.

BlueScope Steel has responded to Steel Dynamics Inc. and SGH’s “best and final” offer to take over the steel company. While not outright rejecting a takeover, BlueScope believes the offer is undervalued and remains open to talks.

With domestic steel prices rising steadily and mill lead times pushing out, import offers are becoming more attractive to US buyers.

Gerdau’s North American operations closed the fourth quarter of 2025 with another solid performance, according to its parent company’s most recent financial report. Supporting the steelmaker are resilient demand in key end-use markets and a continued rebalancing of domestic supply and imports.

Leaders of the Steel Manufacturers Association (SMA) and the Canadian Steel Producers Association (CSPA) used this year's Tampa Steel Conference to outline the North American steel industry's central challenges: growing pressures, tariff realignments, and the upcoming USMCA review.

The US Department of Commerce is adjusting the countervailing duties (CVDs) on steel plate imports from Korea.

Volkswagen workers in Chattanooga, Tenn., voted overwhelmingly last week to ratify a labor contract with the United Autoworkers. The deal marks the first union contract for Southern autoworkers outside the “Big Three” Detroit-area automakers.

Ryerson Holding Corp. posted a loss in the fourth quarter and full-year 2025. But the Chicago-based service center group struck an optimistic tone as it began integrating Olympic Steel and is seeing early signs of a manufacturing rebound.

Nucor Corp. has made an internal promotion and named the new top financial officer of the Charlotte, N.C.-based steel company.

The AIA/Deltek Architecture Billings Index (ABI) tumbled in January, as business softened further at architectural firms across the US.

Ternium SA closed 2025 under pressure from lower steel prices and softer shipments. But the Latin American steelmaker expects both volumes and margins to improve early in 2026 as Mexico’s trade defenses tighten and US tariff uncertainty begins to settle.