The Trump administration’s decision to double tariffs on both steel and aluminum to 50 per cent would devastate Canada’s industries and hundreds of thousands of jobs. The United Steelworkers union (USW) is urging the federal government to act swiftly and forcefully.
“A 50% tariff would completely shut us out of the U.S. market,” said Marty Warren, USW National Director for Canada. “This isn’t trade policy – it’s a direct attack on Canadian industries and workers. Thousands of Canadian jobs are on the line and communities that rely on steel and aluminum are being put at risk. Canada needs to respond immediately and decisively to defend workers.”
The tariffs will take effect on Wednesday, June 4. USW said these measures would severely disrupt integrated North American supply chains and threaten jobs, both directly and indirectly, in sectors like manufacturing, auto, defense, aerospace, and construction. Canada is the United States’ largest supplier of steel and aluminum.
“Workers in Canada’s steel and aluminum industries have already been hit hard by months of uncertainty,” Warren added. “Now their livelihoods are being threatened again. We need more than statements. We need concrete action — and we need it now.”
The top priority must be expanding the use of Section 53 of the Customs Tariff and apply targeted countermeasures to protect the Canadian market from offshore steel, the union announced. The government must also eliminate the exemptions that allow U.S. steel and aluminum to enter Canada tariff-free. If the United States is closing its market to Canadian producers, Ottawa must ensure Canadian producers are not undercut in their own.
Strengthening domestic demand through industrial investment and domestic procurement reform must also be a priority. This could include requiring Canadian-made steel and aluminum in all publicly funded infrastructure projects to support local jobs and build long-term resilience, introducing a made-in-Canada tax credit to further incentivize the use of domestic materials by private industry, and supporting affected workers through a reform of employment insurance and a wage subsidy program with jobs guarantees to help retain skilled workers.
