Home
News
UPDATED: U.S. hits Canadian steel…

UPDATED: U.S. hits Canadian steel industry in response to Ontario’s electricity tariffs

In a response to Ontario implementing a 25 per cent tariff on electricity crossing the southern border, the United States threatened to doubled its tariff on Canadian steel and aluminum to 50 per cent, but ultimately settled on a 25 per cent tariff, which kicked in just after midnight March 12.

“Based on Ontario, Canada, placing a 25% Tariff on “Electricity” coming into the United States, I have instructed my Secretary of Commerce to add an ADDITIONAL 25% Tariff, to 50%, on all STEEL and ALUMINUM COMING INTO THE UNITED STATES FROM CANADA, ONE OF THE HIGHEST TARIFFING NATIONS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. This will go into effect TOMORROW MORNING, March 12th,” U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on social media March 11.

Trump went on to say that Canada must also drop its “anti-American farmer tariff,” which he said ranges from 250 to 390 per cent on various U.S. dairy products, as well as other “egregious, long-time tariffs” or he will substantially increase the tariff on vehicles coming into the U.S. on April 2.

“[This] will, essentially, permanently shut down the automobile manufacturing business in Canada. Those cars can easily be made in the USA!” Trump said on social media.

The president went on to question why Ontario would implement such tariffs, as well as why Canada supplies the U.S. with electricity.

“Why would our Country allow another Country to supply us with electricity, even for a small area? Who made these decisions, and why? And can you imagine Canada stooping so low as to use ELECTRICITY, that so affects the life of innocent people, as a bargaining chip and threat? They will pay a financial price for this so big that it will be read about in History Books for many years to come!”

The Canadian Steel Producers Association denounced any tariffs on Canadian steel, with Catherine Cobden, president and CEO, saying last week: “The Trump Administration’s determination to enact tariffs on every Canadian product entering the United States, including Canadian steel, is completely unwarranted. It will bring painful economic repercussions to both American and Canadian workers, their families and communities. The impact of the tariffs will be felt in the wallets of citizens both to the north and south of the border.

“Canada has been the United States’ most steadfast trading partner for decades including under the USMCA signed in 2020 under President Trump. The entire North American steel industry has benefited greatly from the USMCA. Beyond that, Canada has worked to align itself with the United States on trade measures to protect our respective steel industries from unfair trade, including 25 per cent tariffs on China, deeply enhanced import monitoring and ensuring that over 95 per cent of the steel supplied by Canada to the United States has originated in the USMCA region.”

Related Posts

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *