Already a subscriber? Make sure to log into your account before viewing this content. You can access your account by hitting the “login” button on the top right corner. Still unable to see the content after signing in? Make sure your card on file is up-to-date.
A top Canadian official has called for the country’s prime minister to impose retaliatory tariffs on the United States, following President Trump’s decision to double levies on steel and aluminum imports.
Some shit you should know before you read: If you’re unaware, President Trump announced a significant tariff hike on Tuesday through an executive order signed at the White House, doubling existing tariffs on imported steel and aluminum. The measure increased tariffs from 25% to 50% on nearly all such imports into the United States. In a release, the White House framed the move as part of a broader strategy to protect domestic metal industries, citing national security and economic interests. The new tariffs took effect immediately on Wednesday, with the United Kingdom notably exempt due to a recent trade agreement with the US.
What’s going on now: In a notable development, Ontario Premier Doug Ford has taken a hardline stance against the United States following President Trump’s decision to double tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. Speaking to reporters in Toronto, Ford urged immediate retaliation from the government, saying, “You’re either standing up for Canada and protecting people’s jobs, their livelihoods. Or you sit back and get steamrolled. That’s not what I’m going to do.”
In a subsequent interview with CNN, Ford said that he “recommended to the prime minister directly that we slap another 25 percent on top of our tariffs, to equal President Trump’s tariffs on our steel.” He added, “We can’t sit back and let President Trump steamroll us, try to shut down our steel industry, take jobs down to the US. He has no regard for jobs here in Ontario.”
So far, Canada has not imposed additional tariffs in response to the new US hike. Prime Minister Mark Carney has opted for continued negotiations, stating that discussions with US officials are “intensive” and progressing.
This all comes as the US tariff hike will have immediate effects on Canadian industry and workers. Canada is the top exporter of steel and aluminum to the US, accounting for roughly 16% of US steel imports and over 40% of its aluminum imports, according to data from the Canadian Steel Producers Association and Natural Resources Canada. Industry experts and labor unions warn that more than 23,000 steel jobs and 9,500 aluminum jobs across Canada could be at risk due to the escalating trade measures.
