David McCall, President of United Steelworkers, expressed concerns over President Donald Trump's plan to impose tariffs on Canada, stating that it "hurts workers on both sides of the border." He made this statement in a press release dated February 10.
"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," said McCall, United Steelworkers (USW) International President. "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."
McCall explained that the union opposes Trump's proposal to implement 25% tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum. He emphasized that Canada is a trusted trade partner and not a source of unfair competition. While acknowledging the necessity to address global overcapacity, particularly from countries like China, McCall advocated for a targeted approach in using tariffs to protect domestic industries, taking into account economic ties with allied nations.
According to Politico, several GOP senators joined Democrats in opposing the tariffs on Canada. The resolution, led by Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.), aims to terminate Trump’s national emergency declaration from last month. This declaration justified the 25 percent tariffs on Canadian goods due to concerns about fentanyl trafficking and illegal immigration. Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) supported the measure, stating that imposing tariffs on Canada is "a huge mistake" and would disrupt both countries' economies. She highlighted potential risks to Maine’s lobster, wood pulp, potato, and blueberry industries.
Yahoo News reported misinformation circulating on social media regarding Canadian tariffs on U.S. goods. Claims suggested that Canada imposes high fees on American imports; however, most products traded under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) cross the border duty-free. Exceptions exist for certain agricultural goods subject to supply management quotas. Ottawa trade expert Peter Clark clarified that many U.S. goods are listed as tariff-free by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), with social media posts misrepresenting actual rates. Dairy, poultry, and eggs can face steep tariffs exceeding 200% if import limits are surpassed; these policies have been longstanding and align with USMCA rules.
According to Yahoo News, Canada recently introduced retaliatory tariffs in response to Trump's 25% duties on Canadian steel and aluminum. Official trade data indicates that in 2024, the U.S. had a $63.3 billion trade deficit with Canada due to oil and gas imports rather than tariffs. Analysts caution against misrepresenting trade policies as it could exacerbate tensions within an already complex economic relationship.
The United Steelworkers International (USW), founded in 1942, is North America’s largest industrial union representing 850,000 workers across various sectors including metals, mining, rubber, paper, energy, and manufacturing.
