Canadian steel industry urges action against proposed US tariffs

The Canadian Steel Producers Association (CSPA) has called on the Canadian government to engage in immediate dialogue with the incoming US administration following President-elect Donald Trump's proposal to impose a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico. The CSPA emphasized that such tariffs could severely disrupt the deeply integrated North American steel market and harm industries reliant on cross-border trade.

 Catherine Cobden, CSPA President and CEO, highlighted the significant economic ties between the two countries, with steel trade valued at $20 billion annually. Approximately 40% of Canada's steel imports come from the U.S., while 20% of U.S. steel imports originate in Canada. Cobden warned that these proposed tariffs could escalate costs for sectors like automotive, energy, and construction, affecting both producers and consumers on both sides of the border.

 The CSPA urged the Canadian government to work closely with U.S. officials to prevent the implementation of these tariffs and to maintain the principles of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The association called for a collaborative approach to strengthen economic ties and address shared trade challenges while ensuring the stability of North America's steel industry.