Canadian steel industry slams U.S. tariff hike, urges swift retaliation

The Canadian Steel Producers Association (CSPA) is urging the federal government to immediately reinstate retaliatory tariffs after U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to raise steel and aluminum tariffs to 50 per cent starting June 4.

“The Canadian Steel Producers Association condemns the Trump Administration’s latest announcement increasing steel tariffs to 50 per cent,” said CSPA president and CEO Catherine Cobden in a statement. “A move that essentially closes the US market to our domestic industry for half of its production.”

Cobden warned the tariff hike would severely disrupt cross-border supply chains and negatively impact customers in both countries.

“It is vital that the Government of Canada responds immediately to fully re-instate retaliatory steel tariffs to match the American tariffs and to implement as quickly as possible new tariffs at our own borders to stop unfairly traded steel from entering Canada,” she said.

Cobden emphasized the strategic importance of the steel sector, which supports industries such as energy, automotive, manufacturing and defence.

“This latest announcement from the Trump Administration is a further blow to Canadian steel that will have unrecoverable consequences,” she said. “The new government has already consulted on possible new measures. The time for the Canadian government to act is now.”