Steelworkers across Canada say uncertainty is growing as the trade dispute with the United States continues, with union leaders calling on both governments to return to the negotiating table and provide more support for workers.
United Steelworkers International President Roxanne Brown made the call Tuesday during a news conference in Laval, Quebec, saying the North American steel industry relies heavily on the integrated relationship between Canadian and American workers and businesses.
The United States has imposed 50 per cent tariffs on steel, while Canada has responded with matching counter-tariffs on affected products.
For workers in the industry, union representatives say the uncertainty is being felt directly on the shop floor.
Brown said the effects of the trade dispute extend across the border, arguing that disruption affecting workers in one country can quickly have consequences for workers in the other.
“When the steel worker in Pennsylvania loses work because of market disruption, workers in Ontario feel it. When an aluminum worker in Quebec faces uncertainty, workers in Ohio feel it,” she said.
She also pointed to the importance of cross-border supply chains in industries such as transportation and defence.
Brown cited submarines manufactured in Virginia that use sonar and radar systems from Nova Scotia as an example of the connections between Canadian and American manufacturing.
Brown is calling on Canadian and American trade representatives to resume negotiations.
The USW says the two countries should also be looking at competition from outside North America, particularly China.
Brown said China is producing more steel than it needs, with surplus product entering international markets at lower prices and creating additional pressure on North American steel producers.
She said the consequences are being felt well beyond the steel sector, pointing to industries including aluminum, pulp and paper, glass, containers and manufacturing.
The federal government has introduced a number of measures in response to the tariff dispute.
Those include funding aimed at supporting interprovincial steel trade and programs providing assistance to workers affected by tariffs.
The federal government announced additional counter-tariffs and a new $7.5-billion package of measures for workers and businesses impacted by U.S. tariffs earlier this month.
The United Steelworkers represents workers in both Canada and the United States and says the two countries’ manufacturing economies remain deeply interconnected. The union is urging both governments to focus on protecting jobs while working toward a resolution to the ongoing trade dispute.
