Canadian officers say a response is coming to U.S. President Donald Trump’s 25 per cent on metal and aluminum imports.
Trump signed the orders Feb. 10, putting tariffs on all metal and aluminum imports.
He did an analogous transfer throughout his first presidency, when he imposed 25 per cent tariffs on metal and 10 per cent on aluminum, however later granted a number of international locations exceptions, together with Canada.
United Steelworkers react to tariffs
The United Steelworkers union, which represents 850,000 staff in Canada, the U.S. and the Caribbean, together with 225,000 in Canada, stated there may be $20 billion price of metal traded between Canada and the U.S. every year. Canada imports 39 per cent of its metal from the U.S. and exports 94 per cent of its manufacturing.
Moreover, in 2024, Canada exported $15.9 billion price of aluminum to the U.S., making it the U.S.’s largest provider of aluminum.
“Trump’s tariffs are a direct attack on workers and communities,” stated Marty Warren, USW nationwide director for Canada, in a information launch. “We’ve been through this before and we know these kinds of reckless trade measures don’t work, and hurt workers, destabilize industries and create uncertainty across the economy on both sides of the border.”
“Canada is not the problem, and these tariffs will only hurt workers on both sides of the border,” USW worldwide president Dave McCall stated within the launch. “Instead of reckless trade wars, we need policies that strengthen manufacturing and protect good jobs in both countries.”
The United Steelworkers union is asking on the federal authorities to reply with counter-tariffs
The Canadian Metal Producers Affiliation can also be calling on the Canadian authorities to fight U.S. tariffs.
Canadian politicians reply to metal tariffs
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated Canada will reply.
“We will be working with the American administration over the coming weeks to highlight the negative impacts on Americans and Canadians of these unacceptable tariffs,” he stated in an interview obtainable on YouTube.
He stated a response could be “firm and clear.”
“We will stand up for Canadian workers, we will stand up for Canadian industries and more Canadians will stand up for each other. This is a moment of pride. This is a moment of pulling together. This is a moment for Canada to be solid.”
Doug Ford, at present campaigning as chief of the Progressive Conservatives to take care of his place as Ontario premier, stated tariffs on Canadian-made metal and aluminum will harm U.S. companies by elevating costs and costing American staff their jobs.
“America loses. Canada loses. China wins,” he stated in a put up on X, previously Twitter.
Tariffs on Canadian-made metal and aluminum will harm U.S. companies by elevating costs and costing American staff their jobs.
America loses. Canada loses. China wins. pic.twitter.com/gF04RCL36Z
— Doug Ford (@fordnation) February 10, 2025
“These tariffs are going to hurt both countries, mark my words,” Ford stated in an interview on CNBC.
“That’s the last thing we want to do, but we will retaliate. Canada will feel the pain, there’s no doubt, but I can assure you, when we retaliate, the Americans will feel the pain and for what purpose? There’s no reason.”
The Ontario Liberals final week launched a plan for combating Trump’s tariffs. The occasion stated it might backstop affected enterprise via a Battle Tariffs Fund, would develop the financial system by investing in infrastructure and use different measures to assist Ontario climate the financial storm.
“Unlike Doug Ford, I didn’t want Donald Trump to win the White House back because I knew it would be bad for Ontario,” Liberal Chief Bonnie Crombie stated in a press release. “We need to stand together as Team Canada against Trump. But the people of Ontario also need a premier who will fight to get the basics right for them. That’s my plan — a family doctor for everyone, an end to endless waits in emergency rooms and a focus on making life more affordable.”
Mark Carney, who’s vying to be the brand new federal Liberal chief, stated in a put up on X that we want keep united and have the appropriate response.
“In the short term, Canada needs to manage foreign trade threats with dollar-for-dollar tariffs and supports for our critical steel and aluminum workers. And as we look to the future, we’ll need a co-ordinated strategy to boost investment, make our companies more competitive, and diversify our trading partners,” he posted.
Chrystia Freeland, one other future Liberal chief hopeful, stated in a put up on X we should retaliate with dollar-for-dollar tariffs simply as we did in 2018.
Conservative Chief Pierre Poilievre additionally stated in a put up on X that “President Trump’s tariffs are wrong and unjustified. Canada must respond in kind with matching tariffs on American aluminum and steel.”
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