Canadian steel producers call for immediate response to Trump’s tariffs

On May 31, 2025, Catherine Cobden, President and CEO of the Canadian Steel Producers Association (CSPA), issued a strong statement in response to the Donald Trump administration’s decision to increase the duty on steel imports to the United States to 50%.

“The Canadian Steel Producers Association condemns the Trump Administration’s latest announcement increasing steel tariffs to 50 per cent. A move that essentially closes the US market to our domestic industry for half of its productions,” Cobden said.

She emphasized that such actions could lead to serious disruptions in the closely integrated steel supply chains between Canada and the United States. This will have negative consequences for both Canadian and American companies.

The CSPA demands an immediate response from the Canadian government: full restoration of mirror duties on US steel, as well as the introduction of new restrictions on imports of cheap and unfairly traded steel from other countries.

“Canadian steel is a strategic sector that is key to our economic and national security. Our members fuel countless sectors like energy, automotives, manufacturing and defence which create hundreds of thousands of jobs across Canada,” Cobden said.

According to her, the latest move by the United States is another painful blow, the consequences of which may be irreversible.

“The time for the Canadian government to act is now,” the CSPA head summarized.

As GMK Center reported earlier, on May 30, US President Donald Trump announced at the US Steel plant in Pennsylvania that he would set tariffs on steel imports to the United States at 50%, doubling the current rate to protect the country’s steelmakers. Later, he clarified on social media that the increased tariff rate would take effect on June 4.

Trump’s announcement was welcomed by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) and the American Steel Association. They cited the growth of global overcapacity led by China and the need to protect the US market.

As a reminder, on March 12 this year, US tariffs on all imported steel and aluminum came into effect at 25%.