August 21st, 2025, Ottawa, ON – Catherine Cobden, President and CEO of the Canadian Steel Producers Association (CSPA), released the following statement:
“The Canadian Steel Producers Association is dismayed the United States have added 407 products to the list of goods subject to 50 per cent tariffs for their steel and aluminium content.
“This action is another blow to the integrated economy our two countries have built over the last several decades and will impact the manufacturing of steel-containing products in Canada destined for the United States. These goods include cutlery, propane tanks, heaters, air conditioners, agricultural equipment like tractors, and many more.
“We are calling on the Government of Canada to protect the domestic steel industry by standing strong in the face of these unjustified US steel tariffs and applying a 50 per cent tariff on all US steel entering Canada. This action includes immediately ending the ill-advised April reprieve on US steel used in manufacturing and processing.
“The Government of Canada must strengthen measures at the border, like the recently announced Tariff Rate Quotas (TRQs), to further protect our domestic steel industry. We must continue our crackdown of foreign steel and indirect steel trade by tightening the allowable volumes within the TRQ to 20 per cent to reduce the unfairly traded or subsidized steel cannibalizing our domestic market.
“The time for action is now.”
The Canadian Steel Producers Association (CSPA) is the national voice of all primary steel producers and some of the country’s largest steel consumers. Our 17 members supply the essential materials to key sectors such as automotive, energy, construction, and transportation—driving jobs and economic growth across North America. The CSPA advocates for a competitive and sustainable business environment that strengthens the steel sector and its supply chains.
-- 30 --