Toronto, March 5, 2018
Plans to introduce new tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum into the U.S. were announced last week by U.S. President Donald Trump. The proposed tariffs would be 25% for steel and 10% for aluminum. No other details were released, but the President did indicate the tariffs will be implemented "for a long time" to protect U.S. manufacturers of steel and aluminum.
The announcement raised fears of a trade war as several affected countries, including Canada, have already indicated that they will retaliate if the tariffs are implemented.
Canada is the number one supplier of steel to U.S. importers, accounting for 16 per cent of total imports, or more than four million tonnes. But Canada has not been targeted by Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, the architect of the proposed tariffs.
Opposition is building worldwide, as many organizations believe the tariffs are a counterproductive measure that will lead to higher prices and lost jobs.
While there does not yet appear to be any exemption to the tariffs for Canada, United Steelworkers (USW) International President Leo W. Gerard issued this statement following a session the President hosted at the White House:
"Canada is not the problem. The United States and Canada have integrated manufacturing markets and our union represents trade-impacted workers in both nations. In addition, the defense and intelligence relationship between the countries is unique and integral to our security. Any solution must exempt Canadian production. At the same time, Canada must commit to robust enforcement and enhance its cooperation to address global overcapacity in steel and aluminum."
For more information please call Brian Rowe, Director – Customs Compliance & Regulatory Affairs at (905) 882-4880, ext. 213.