By Catherine Cobden

July 10, 2025

Canadian steel is fundamental to Canada’s economic and national security. We have a long and proud history of nation building. While our industry now aims to build the next chapter of our country’s history, our future is deeply threatened as Canadian steel producers, workers and communities are under attack by the Trump administration.

The United States has been the destination market for one half, or 6.5 million tonnes, of Canada’s steel production. With 25% tariffs initiated on Canadian steel products on March 12th, we saw a 32% decline in US-bound shipments by May along with job losses nearing 1,000 workers. With the unjustified tariffs increasing further on June 4th to 50%, the decline of a legacy Canadian industry is accelerating.

This entirely uncalled-for crisis is jeopardizing 23,000 direct steelworker jobs in Canada and an estimated 100,000 to 160,000 indirect jobs.

The members of the Canadian Steel Producers Association (CSPA) support the government’s efforts to fight the unjustified and unwarranted US tariffs and the government’s stated intentions to strengthen countermeasures against the US steel industry should a deal not be reached by August 1st.  We also welcome future measures that will come to address global overcapacity in the weeks ahead.

However, the uncertainty generated by disruptive US trade tactics has already created debilitating circumstances for our industry. We understand that some of the challenges we are facing are driven by other countries acting in ways that are outside of Canada’s direct control. To drive our own fate, Canadian steel producers have asked for support from the government to ensure that steel trade in our own country is rules-based.

With its June 19th announcement of measures to protect the Canadian steel and aluminum industries, our government’s plan missed the mark. The government is taking a business-as-usual approach that fails to recognize the crisis we are in and continues to allow proven trade cheaters to enter our country freely. The rationale given is that Canada’s supply chains are not robust enough to withstand a pivot. Our view is that we must try harder.

Make no mistake, unfair trade practices in our market have weakened Canada’s domestic industry and now President Trump’s attack will steadily accelerate this weakness to disastrous consequences in our communities.

Over decades, many Canadian buyers of steel have shifted away from buying domestic steel and have opted for unfairly traded steel from offshore producers because it is cheaper and produced on the backs of poorly paid workers, poor environmental performance and an overall lack of standards.  Our producers are willing to work with all governments and the market to ensure buyers’ needs are met with high quality, more sustainable steel.

Make no mistake, unfair trade practices in our market have weakened Canada’s domestic industry and now President Trump’s attack will steadily accelerate this weakness to disastrous consequences in our communities.

We need to stand up in defence of Canada’s steel industry and its tens of thousands of steelworkers. We know that millions of Canadians support our sector. We know that many provinces rely on our sector to supply their auto, energy, construction, infrastructure, and defence sectors.

The CSPA will continue to advocate for a robust retaliation package, including matching tariffs on US steel and a tariff rate quota that targets the trade offenders undermining Canadian steel producers. Furthermore, we need tough and immediate tariff measures to address the harms of global overcapacity, not further delays to these tariffs.

While we appreciate the government’s willingness to act for our sector, it is critical that we get it exactly right for the countless communities who rely on Canadian steel producers. We don’t have weeks and months to wait for deals to be made, and unfortunately, this will be proven as more time passes without action.

We call on all Canadians to join us in this fight for our lives.

Catherine Cobden is President and CEO of the Canadian Steel Producers Association.