Another Attack on Canadian Workers: Trump’s 25% Tariffs on Canadian Steel and Aluminum

OTTAWA – Today, Donald Trump has once again launched an economic attack on Canadian workers, slapping a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports. These reckless tariffs threaten tens of thousands of good-paying jobs and destabilize industries that are the backbone of Canada’s economy.

Steel and aluminum are critical to Canada’s industrial base, supplying essential inputs to the automotive, energy, construction, transportation, and manufacturing sectors. In total, over 43,000 Canadian jobs are directly or indirectly at risk. When Trump imposed similar tariffs in 2018, Canadian steel exports to the U.S. plummeted by 38%, causing economic pain for workers and communities across the country. The aluminum industry, already facing global trade disruptions, now sees 9,500 direct Canadian jobs under threat.

“Donald Trump’s tariffs are a direct attack on Canadian workers and our economy. These tariffs don’t protect jobs—they kill them. Canada cannot sit idly by while our workers are treated as bargaining chips in Trump’s trade war. Our government must respond with strong, immediate action to defend Canadian industries and the workers who keep them running,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress.

Canada’s unions fought back in 2018, and we will fight back again. We call on the federal government to take immediate action to defend Canadian workers, through strong retaliatory measures, investments in affected industries, and direct support for impacted workers.

Trump’s trade war tactics put corporate profits ahead of workers’ livelihoods. Canada must not allow its economy to be held hostage by U.S. policies. We stand with steel and aluminum workers and demand a strong, swift response to protect jobs, industries, and communities.