USW Opposes Canadian Tariffs, Welcomes Efforts to Contain Global Overcapacity

Contact: Jess Kamm Broomell, jkamm@usw.org, 412-562-2444

(Pittsburgh) – United Steelworkers (USW) International President David McCall issued the following statement today following President Donald Trump’s announcement that he would institute 25 percent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports into the United States:

“Steel and aluminum serve as the backbone of our critical infrastructure and national security, and strong domestic industries have for generations enabled our nation to build bridges, supply power, outfit our military and more.

“Our union welcomes President Donald Trump’s efforts to contain the global overcapacity that has for too long enabled bad actors like China to flood the global market with its unfairly traded products, resulting in surging imports into the United States, especially from Mexico.

“At the same time, we must distinguish between trusted trade partners, like Canada, and those who are seeking to undercut our industries as they work to dominate the global market.

“Canada is not the problem. Indeed, Canada has taken steps to coordinate their trade policies with the U.S. to respond to unfair foreign trade, and applying across-the-board tariffs ultimately hurts workers on both sides of the border.

“While our union absolutely views tariffs as one of many important tools we need to employ to rebalance our trade relationships, we urge a measured approach that both strengthens our manufacturing sector and accounts for our relationships with our allies, like Canada, who play by the rules.”

The USW represents 850,000 workers employed in metals, mining, pulp and paper, rubber, chemicals, glass, auto supply and the energy-producing industries, along with a growing number of workers in health care, public sector, higher education, tech and service occupations.

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