Canadian Design and Construction Report staff writer
U.S. President Donald Trump has signed executive orders imposing 25 per cent tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports, including from Canada, starting March 4.
“This is the beginning of making America rich again,” Trump said as he signed the orders in the Oval Office on Monday.
The move reverses exemptions Canada and other countries had secured from Trump’s 2018 tariffs. It also increases aluminum tariffs to 25 per cent from 10 per cent, which was the initial rate under those earlier measures.
“We are deeply concerned that US President Donald Trump is again threatening more tariffs on Canada, this time directly targeting the steel and aluminum sectors,” Catherine Cobden, President and CEO of the Canadian Steel Producers Association said in a statement on Monday. “When President Trump implemented tariffs on Canadian steel in 2018, we saw massive disruptions and harm on both sides of the border, hurting both America and Canada.”
“The Canada – US economy is so highly integrated; with $20B in trade of steel between our two countries. 40% of Canada’s steel imports comes from the United States.”
“This at a time when Canada has worked tremendously hard to align our trade policy with the United States to protect both markets from unfair trade that threaten jobs and communities. For example, Canada implemented its own Section 53 tariffs on Chinese steel imports and a monitoring system of all imports to ensure it can identify the country of melt and pour.
“We are urgently demanding that the Government of Canada act again with resolve and purpose to combat this threat and ensure any measure taken against our sector is met with retaliatory measures and action to offset the devastating impacts tariffs would have on our sector and our workers.”
In a post on social media, Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne called the tariffs “totally unjustified” and said there will be a strong response. “Canadian steel and aluminum support key U.S. industries, including defence, shipbuilding, energy and automotive,” Champagne wrote, adding that Ottawa is consulting international partners and will deliver a “clear and calibrated” response.
“We will continue to stand up for Canada, support our workers, and defend our industries.”
Just one week ago Trump paused tariffs on all goods from Canada until March 4, allowing time to address concerns about border security.
“If we make it in the United States, we don’t need it to be made in Canada,” he said.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Monday that he had spoken with executives from Stelco and Dofasco, major Canadian steel producers, and promised a swift response. Ford also used the announcement to justify calling a snap provincial election.
The reinstated tariffs echo measures Trump introduced in 2018, when he imposed a 25 per cent duty on steel and 10 per cent on aluminum under national security powers. Those tariffs were lifted in 2019 after Canada, Mexico and the U.S. reached a deal to prevent supply surges.
According to the Canadian Labour Congress, tariffs led to layoffs and uncertainty for sectors beyond steel and aluminum.
Canada is the largest supplier of steel to the U.S., accounting for nearly 25 per cent of imports in 2023. Mexico supplied almost 15 per cent, according to U.S. Department of Commerce data.
