The latest round of tariffs targeting Canadian steel and aluminum is drawing ire from across the industry. At a rate of $1,349.50 per metric ton, the tariff effectively makes Canadian exports to the U.S. economically unviable, according to a statement from the Aluminium Association of Canada (which uses the international spelling for the metal).
“A 50 percent tariff on Canadian aluminium will suppress demand across the continent, whether the metal is produced in Canada or the U.S.,” said Jean Simard, president and CEO of the Aluminium Association of Canada. “It will impact workers on both sides of the border and disrupt key sectors including defence, construction, and automotive.”
The organization added that the tariffs will force the industry to diversify trade toward the European Union. Currently there are 9,500 aluminum workers producing metal that is transformed by more than 700,000 American manufacturing workers into essential products, which the association states contributes a binational value of more than $228 billion annually to the U.S. economy.
