Media Release

One Year into American Steel Tariffs, Canada’s Steel Industry Calls for Tariff-free Trade

March 12^th, 2026, Ottawa, ON – Catherine Cobden, President and CEO of the Canadian Steel Producers Association (CSPA), released the following statement: 

“One year into the United States’ unjust imposition of tariffs on Canadian steel, we are renewing our urgent call for a return to stable, predictable, tariff-free trade between our two countries.

Since March 12^th, 2025, the United States global steel tariff regime has targeted Canadian steel exports. These tariffs remain in place and continue to disrupt the long-standing cross-border supply chains built over decades of integration. 

The North American steel industries face similar external threats resulting in a high degree of unfair steel trade throughout the region. Rather than this damaging trade war between our two nations, we should deepen our work together to fight the scourge that is state-sponsored global overcapacity while allowing for tariff-free trade inside our perimeter to strengthen our integrated North American supply chains.

Over the last year, the Canadian steel industry has welcomed the enhanced trade measures taken by the federal government that are important steps to further align with the US in defending our continent from unfair trade practices. We will diligently monitor these measures to ensure their effectiveness. 

Canada’s suite of measures includes a 25% surtax on all direct and indirect Chinese steel imports; a comprehensive Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) system that limits non-CUSMA steel imports; a 25% tariff on steel derivatives along with a new, dedicated steel compliance team at the CBSA which together represent important steps to reduce unfairly traded imports. 

Moving forward, the federal government must ensure that the US Section 232 sectoral tariffs are resolved as CUSMA discussions unfold over the months ahead."