U.S. President Donald Trump has officially doubled tariffs on imported steel and aluminum from all countries — including Canada — in a sweeping proclamation issued Tuesday, a move that is sending shockwaves through the Canadian manufacturing sector and reigniting cross-border trade tensions. The only country exempt from the increase is the United Kingdom, whose tariff rate will remain at 25 percent.
Starting Wednesday, tariffs will rise from 25 percent to a crushing 50 percent. Trump said the measure is intended to counteract the “dumping” of low-cost steel and aluminum into the U.S. market, though Canadian officials argue the action violates trade agreements and will severely harm both economies.
The decision follows Trump’s rally in Pittsburgh last Friday, where he first signaled his intention to ramp up tariffs on Canada, which remains the U.S.’s largest supplier of steel and aluminum. According to the United Steelworkers union, Canada exported nearly $15.9 billion worth of aluminum to the U.S. last year, and roughly 65 percent of Canadian steel production is sent south of the border.
“This is a devastating blow,” said Marty Warren, national director of the United Steelworkers union in Canada. “We’re on the verge of collapse in some places. At 50 percent, we simply can’t access the U.S. market.”
Warren warned that without quick relief or countermeasures, steel companies could begin idling operations within two to three weeks. While he welcomed the idea of ramping up domestic demand through provincial procurement of Canadian-made steel, he emphasized that broader government support will be needed to prevent job losses and plant shutdowns.
Amid rising concerns, Canada’s Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc met with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in Washington on Tuesday, describing the conversation as “positive,” though no breakthrough was announced. LeBlanc reiterated Canada’s opposition to the tariffs, calling them harmful to the economy and in breach of the CUSMA (Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement).
Canada’s Ambassador to the U.S., Kirsten Hillman, echoed that view, refusing to speculate on exemptions but insisting the tariffs are unjustified and detrimental to both nations.
Meanwhile, in Toronto, Ontario Premier Doug Ford met with new U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra, calling their closed-door talks “encouraging.” Ford expressed cautious optimism, stating, “I think we’re getting closer to a deal. We need to bring the temperature down on both sides.”
Speaking at an event hosted by the Empire Club of Canada and the American Chamber of Commerce, Ambassador Hoekstra also struck a hopeful tone, suggesting a trade resolution could be reached “quickly” if national leaders show the will to act. “Prosperity, security, and safety — these are the shared goals,” he told attendees. “If both leaders focus on that, we can get it done.”
Despite positive rhetoric, the reality on the ground is growing more urgent by the day. With tariffs set to hit within hours, the clock is ticking for Canada’s steel and aluminum sectors, which now face the possibility of deep financial disruption — and thousands of jobs hanging in the balance.