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U.S. President Donald Trump announced a major increase in tariffs on steel imports, raising them to 50% to protect American steelworkers. Speaking at a US Steel facility in Pennsylvania, Trump emphasized the need to secure the steel industry in the United States.
The announcement follows earlier tariffs that sparked retaliation from Canada and concerns from the U.S. auto industry.
Canadian businesses and policymakers will be closely monitoring the impact of these new tariffs on trade relations and the steel industry.
Reaction from the Canadian Steel Producers Association (CSPA) was swift and strongly critical. President and CEO Catherine Cobden called the move “a further blow to Canadian steel,” warning that it effectively blocks access to the U.S. market for half of Canada’s steel output.
Cobden urged the federal government to immediately reinstate retaliatory tariffs and introduce new protections to prevent unfairly traded steel from flooding the Canadian market. She also emphasized the importance of the domestic steel industry to national security and the broader economy, noting that Canadian producers supply essential sectors like energy, automotive, manufacturing, and defence.
The federal government has previously consulted on potential new trade measures and is now under pressure to act quickly in response to the U.S. decision.
