Latest news with #Stelco
Hamilton Spectator
4 days ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Industry Minister Melanie Joly headed to Hamilton to talk tariffs
Federal Industry Minister Melanie Joly will visit ArcelorMittal Dofasco Friday and meet Hamilton's mayor to talk about the impact of escalating steel tariffs . U.S. President Donald Trump abruptly doubled already punishing tariffs on steel imports south of the border earlier this week to 50 per cent — a move local politicians and industry players called 'devastating' to the Hamilton economy. Hamilton is home to two of the country's largest steel producers, Stelco and ArcelorMittal Dofasco, and nearly 10,000 direct jobs in the city rely on the industry. New Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney, who is apparently involved in quiet trade negotiations with the U.S. president , has not yet publicly specified how or if Canada will retaliate against the latest tariff move. But Joly, the Liberal government's industry minister, has confirmed plans to visit with workers and leaders Friday morning at Dofasco — the go-to political destination during recent elections and the tariff war. Joly is also expected to meet privately with Mayor Andrea Horwath. On Wednesday, Horwath called for 'urgent, co-ordinated action' from all levels of government to battle the unfair tariffs and preserve jobs. Hamilton has also appealed for fast-tracked work on large local projects, like the partly federally funded light rail transit line , with priority given to Hamilton steel. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
CBC
5 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Hamilton steelworkers hang onto jobs for now but brace for impact as U.S. doubles industry tariffs
Social Sharing It's not clear what increased U.S. steel tariffs will mean for Hamilton, but workers and industry leaders agree it's nothing good. "The fear is these additional tariffs might hurt Stelco's customers and their ability to sell to their U.S. customers," Ron Wells, who represents workers at that steel manufacturer, told CBC News Network Wednesday. "The trickle-down effect could have adverse impacts on Stelco and our workforce." U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order Tuesday applying a 50 per cent tariff to steel and aluminum Americans import. The order took effect Wednesday, doubling tariffs that had already been in place since March 12. At Stelco — which has factories in Hamilton and Nanticoke, Ont., and is owned by American company Cleveland-Cliffs — Trump's tariffs have already had a big impact. According to Ron Wells, president of United Steelworkers Local 1005, his employer lost all its U.S. business, representing about 30 per cent of its work. It made back 10 per cent with additional Canadian customers, Wells said. Now, the fear is companies that buy from Stelco then sell to the U.S. will find it harder to do so and therefore buy less. There haven't been job losses at Stelco, Wells said, though in Hamilton, the company isn't hiring temporary summer staff like usual. There are about 650 hourly workers in the bargaining unit in Hamilton, 1,100 in Nanticoke, and a few hundred non/union managers who work at Stelco, he said. Overall, Wells said, workers he represents seem more upset than scared right now. "No one needs this additional stress or frustration." CBC Hamilton contacted Stelco for comment on the increased tariffs but did not receive a response. MP says 10,000 Hamiltonians directly employed by steel sector John-Paul Danko, newly elected MP for Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas said uncertainty is causing "immense stress and anxiety for Hamilton families." The steel industry employs over 10,000 workers directly and there are up to 40,000 local jobs "at risk in associated industries" due to the tariffs, the former city councillor said in a statement Wednesday. Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath also issued a statement condemning the tariffs, saying they "put thousands of good jobs at risk," delay investment and "threaten the stability our industries need to thrive." "The longer this goes on, the larger the impacts are gonna be," Greg Dunnett, head of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce told News Network. The community is supporting affected businesses for now, he said, but if the trade war drags on, it becomes more likely companies will go into "survival mode." In Hamilton, Dunnett said, there's a strong advanced manufacturing sector built around Stelco and ArcelorMittal Dofasco. When steel prices go up, he said, demand goes down. "We're gonna see that impact, then it'll go all the way down into our community," he said. John Farrell, who retired from ArcelorMittal Dofasco after 40 years with the company, told News Network that while it's not as prominent as it used to be, the steel industry in Hamilton still provides good jobs. "A job like that, you can afford to go out for dinner. You can afford to do things that cost money," he said, noting that if steelworkers find themselves with less to spend, that'll affect a variety of businesses such as local restaurants. Industry leader says Canada shut out of U.S. market Some steel businesses have told CBC News they'll be able to adjust to the tariffs but others have been less confident. Catherine Cobden, CEO of the Canadian Steel Producers Association, told CBC News with the current tariff in place, "we basically consider the U.S. market closed." "We can't ship at 50 per cent. Perhaps we can stockpile for a few days, but obviously we can't keep producing if one of our major markets is shuttered," she said. Marty Warren, United Steelworkers National Director for Canada, echoed that sentiment in a statement Saturday, saying: "This isn't trade policy – it's a direct attack on Canadian industries and workers. Thousands of Canadian jobs are on the line and communities that rely on steel and aluminum are being put at risk. Canada needs to respond immediately and decisively to defend workers." Industry and unions call for retaliation Cobden said her industry wants the federal government to match the U.S. steel tariffs, and impose tariffs that will prevent foreign steelmakers from selling at low prices in Canada. Private sector union Unifor called for retaliatory tariffs Wednesday and so did Keanin Loomis, the Hamilton-based president and CEO of the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction. As of Wednesday afternoon, the federal government had not announced such measures, with Industry Minister Mélanie Joly indicating the government wasn't about to match tariffs on U.S. goods and is still in negotiations with that country. The federal government has yet to announce such measures. WATCH: Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks on tariffs ahead of caucus meeting: Carney responds to U.S. aluminum and steel tariffs doubling 19 hours ago Duration 0:45 Danko said the federal government will "take all steps necessary to protect Canadian workers with a coordinated strategic response." At the same time, it will look to grow the steel market and reduce reliance on American exports by removing inter-provincial trade barriers and investing in new infrastructure and defence projects that use Canadian steel and aluminum, he added. In a Hamilton cafe, Steve Lortye told CBC News Network some good might come of all this. Lortye, who's semi-retired and worked for a company that did business with ArcelorMittal Dofasco, said the trade war has caused Canadians to think more seriously about diversifying our economy and finding new trading partners, something he thinks will be good for the country overall and Hamilton's steel sector in particular. "I think that Canada's going to hold its own," he said. "It's gonna take some time. We'll have some pain. But hey, we can thank the orange man for making us stronger."
Hamilton Spectator
5 days ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Hamilton leaders decry ‘devastating' blow to economy after Trump doubles steel tariffs
U.S. President Donald Trump's abrupt decision to double tariffs on Canadian steel imports is a 'devastating' blow to an already struggling Hamilton economy, warn local leaders who are appealing for urgent government intervention. Trump signed an executive order that doubled steel tariffs to 50 per cent just after midnight Wednesday — a 'crushing blow' that will 'essentially close the U.S. market' to Canadian steel companies, warned the Canadian Steel Producers Association. It is calling for renewed counter-tariffs and a crackdown on 'dumping' of cheap foreign steel in Canada. Hamilton is home to two of the country's largest steel producers, Stelco and ArcelorMittal Dofasco, and nearly 10,000 direct jobs in the city rely on the industry. So far, those two companies have not publicly reported layoffs, but Catherine Cobden, head of the national association, has estimated the industry shed 700 jobs over the few months since 25 per cent tariffs were originally imposed. The tariff war has also had a measurable impact on trade at Hamilton's port, which has seen about a 50 per cent drop in the volume of steel and related commodities like iron ore and coal this year, said Ian Hamilton, who heads the Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority. He said the local export industry has been able to 'limp along' despite a 25 per cent tariff, 'but this new 50 per cent tariff basically guts the ability to trade with the United States.' Mayor Andrea Horwath condemned the doubled tariff as 'another blow to Hamilton's economy, workers and families — and especially our steel industry.' In a statement, Horwath said she is in 'active talks' with provincial and federal leaders about what can be done to protect local jobs and urged 'urgent, co-ordinated action' from all levels of government. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Mark Carney told reporters the government will 'take some time' to consider an appropriate response to the latest tariff war action. Locally, new Liberal MP and former city councillor John-Paul Danko said the government is reaching out urgently to officials from affected cities, businesses and unions — some of whom will travel to Ottawa for talks. Danko said he is also hoping to help arrange talks or a meeting with Hamilton's mayor. He added Industry Minister Melanie Joly expects to visit soon with hard-hit cities. 'This is an emergency, it's a crisis and we need to talk to everybody that can be part of the solution,' he said. Hamilton Chamber of Commerce head Greg Dunnett said some steel-related businesses were holding off on major changes like layoffs in the hopes ongoing trade negotiations between the two countries would resolve the tariff war. To see, instead, a doubling of a crippling tariff is 'deeply disappointing,' he said. 'I think, if it is not resolved, then coming out of the summer we are going to start seeing the real impacts of these tariffs.' Many smaller steel fabricators are still bracing for the tariffs' 'ripple effect' on customers and suppliers, said Mike Book, president of Richmond Steel on Arvin Avenue. Book said the 12-person operation specializes in selling finished 'long bar' to machine shops, primarily in Canada. Business has been 'up and down' since the tariff war started, he said — mostly because of the uncertainty around Trump's next tariff move. 'People are thinking, 'Do I buy now or do I wait because he is going to pull (the tariffs) off, or is he going to put them back on, or is he going to double them?'' he said. 'People (who export to the U.S.) just can't absorb a 50 per cent tariff.' Book said Richmond Steel does not sell south of the border, but historically ordered material from the U.S. This year, it is searching out alternate suppliers in Europe in an effort to avoid counter-tariff costs. On the upside, Book said the trade war has prompted new customers to reach out from as far away as B.C. and Newfoundland, as tariff costs make the prospect of cross-country shipping more palatable. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
News.com.au
6 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Canada steelworkers urge Ottawa to counter Trump
Steelworkers in the Canadian city of Hamilton see President Donald Trump's latest trade war escalation as a wake-up call, insisting US efforts to protect struggling metal producers demand an equivalent national response. Hamilton is known locally as "Steeltown," with expansive industrial plants dominating the view from the main bridge that leads into the city. Hamilton has endured countless setbacks as the steel industry that drove its growth through much of 20th Century declined. Trump's decision to double steel and aluminum tariffs to a crippling 50 percent did not come as a shock to those who have spent decades in the industry. "Steel is like a roller-coaster," said Jake Lombardo, who retired after 38 years at Stelco, one of Hamilton's main plants. Lombardo's career spanned the era that saw automation and cheaper foreign product hollow out Hamilton's steel sector. He voiced a degree of understanding for Trump's efforts to shield US producers from external competition. "I'm not a Trump supporter, but one thing I like (about) what he said, he wants to do things in-house. And I don't think there's anything wrong with that," Lombardo, 69, told AFP. "We should have been doing this a long time ago." Hamilton's steel industry was born in the early part of the last century, hitting its peak in the decades following World War II, when the main local union, United Steelworkers Local 1005, counted more than 12,000 members. That number has since fallen to about 650, said union president Ron Wells. Wells said he wasn't opposed to a future where Canadian producers serve Canadian demand and cross-border trade is reduced. But, like Lombardo, he believes Ottawa needs to create the environment that ensures that Canadian steelmakers thrive. "We've been saying that for, like years, if not decades," Wells told AFP. - 'Better late than never'? - The union chief said he was encouraged by Prime Minister Mark Carney's pledge to counter Trump's trade war by boosting internal trade and ushering in an era of massive construction across Canada. Asked about the prospect that Hamilton could benefit from Carney's recent promise that his government would "build baby build," Wells said: "we applaud it." "It's better late than never." Carney on Wednesday called Trump's decision to double steel and aluminum tariffs "unjustified" and "illegal" and promised that Canada -- the largest supplier of foreign steel and aluminum to the United States -- will respond. But in the short term, Wells said there is cause for concern. Stelco, which was bought by the US steel producer Cleveland-Cliffs last year, had been sending about 30 percent of its output to the United States, Wells said. Those orders largely dried up when Trump imposed a blanket 25 percent tariff on all metal imports in March. But Stelco was still selling to Canadian clients who were making products subsequently sold to the United States, with the American importers absorbing the 25 percent tariff hit. - 'The wrong foe' - At 50 percent, Wells voiced fear that business could vanish. "People are just pissed off that (Trump) keeps changing his mind and he's playing chicken with the economy," Wells told AFP. "Our members want to see the tariffs situation get resolved. So go back to full production and we can share the wealth." The Canadian Steel Producers Association, an industry group, said Wednesday that "at a 25 per cent tariff rate, we saw significant layoffs, curtailed investments and a significant drop of shipments to the United States." "At a 50 per cent tariff rate, the US market is effectively closed to Canadian steel, leaving billions of dollars of Canadian steel without a market," it warned. Throughout Trump's trade war, Canadian workers in targeted sectors -- notably auto and metal -- have voiced frustration over the president's decision to harm a bilateral trade relationship widely seen as mutually beneficial. "We think they're picking on the wrong foe," Wells said. Tony Mclaughlin, who has worked for Stelco for 47 years, told AFP he "always thought we'd be exempt," from tariffs." "Is he trying to get a new trade agreement?" He asked. "Maybe that's the big plan."
The Sun
6 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Canada steelworkers urge Ottawa to counter Trump
HAMILTON: Steelworkers in the Canadian city of Hamilton see President Donald Trump's latest trade war escalation as a wake-up call, insisting US efforts to protect struggling metal producers demand an equivalent national response. Hamilton is known locally as 'Steeltown,' with expansive industrial plants dominating the view from the main bridge that leads into the city. Hamilton has endured countless setbacks as the steel industry that drove its growth through much of 20th Century declined. Trump's decision to double steel and aluminum tariffs to a crippling 50 percent did not come as a shock to those who have spent decades in the industry. 'Steel is like a roller-coaster,' said Jake Lombardo, who retired after 38 years at Stelco, one of Hamilton's main plants. Lombardo's career spanned the era that saw automation and cheaper foreign product hollow out Hamilton's steel sector. He voiced a degree of understanding for Trump's efforts to shield US producers from external competition. 'I'm not a Trump supporter, but one thing I like (about) what he said, he wants to do things in-house. And I don't think there's anything wrong with that,' Lombardo, 69, told AFP. 'We should have been doing this a long time ago.' Hamilton's steel industry was born in the early part of the last century, hitting its peak in the decades following World War II, when the main local union, United Steelworkers Local 1005, counted more than 12,000 members. That number has since fallen to about 650, said union president Ron Wells. Wells said he wasn't opposed to a future where Canadian producers serve Canadian demand and cross-border trade is reduced. But, like Lombardo, he believes Ottawa needs to create the environment that ensures that Canadian steelmakers thrive. 'We've been saying that for, like years, if not decades,' Wells told AFP. 'Better late than never'? The union chief said he was encouraged by Prime Minister Mark Carney's pledge to counter Trump's trade war by boosting internal trade and ushering in an era of massive construction across Canada. Asked about the prospect that Hamilton could benefit from Carney's recent promise that his government would 'build baby build,' Wells said: 'we applaud it.' 'It's better late than never.' Carney on Wednesday called Trump's decision to double steel and aluminum tariffs 'unjustified' and 'illegal' and promised that Canada -- the largest supplier of foreign steel and aluminum to the United States -- will respond. But in the short term, Wells said there is cause for concern. Stelco, which was bought by the US steel producer Cleveland-Cliffs last year, had been sending about 30 percent of its output to the United States, Wells said. Those orders largely dried up when Trump imposed a blanket 25 percent tariff on all metal imports in March. But Stelco was still selling to Canadian clients who were making products subsequently sold to the United States, with the American importers absorbing the 25 percent tariff hit. 'The wrong foe' At 50 percent, Wells voiced fear that business could vanish. 'People are just pissed off that (Trump) keeps changing his mind and he's playing chicken with the economy,' Wells told AFP. 'Our members want to see the tariffs situation get resolved. So go back to full production and we can share the wealth.' The Canadian Steel Producers Association, an industry group, said Wednesday that 'at a 25 per cent tariff rate, we saw significant layoffs, curtailed investments and a significant drop of shipments to the United States.' 'At a 50 per cent tariff rate, the US market is effectively closed to Canadian steel, leaving billions of dollars of Canadian steel without a market,' it warned. Throughout Trump's trade war, Canadian workers in targeted sectors -- notably auto and metal -- have voiced frustration over the president's decision to harm a bilateral trade relationship widely seen as mutually beneficial. 'We think they're picking on the wrong foe,' Wells said. Tony Mclaughlin, who has worked for Stelco for 47 years, told AFP he 'always thought we'd be exempt,' from tariffs.' 'Is he trying to get a new trade agreement?' He asked. 'Maybe that's the big plan.'
