Steelmaker not seeking federal aid: CEO

Trump last week decided to impose a 25 per cent tariffs on steel imports.

While Canada and Mexico secured a temporary reprieve, Trump has linked permanent exemption to a successful North American Free Trade Agreement deal, making the industry nervous.

Canada is the biggest supplier of steel and aluminum to the United States. But relative to bigger industries such as agriculture and auto manufacturing, the steel sector only employs 22,000 direct jobs and represented 2 per cent of exports last year.

ArcelorMittal is the largest steel manufacturer in Canada, employing about 10,300 people with seven units in the country, according to the Canadian Steel Producers Association (CSPA).

“I think it’s just boots on the ground, boots on the ground both at the CBSA (Canada Border Services Agency) and in Global Affairs to make sure whatever remedies are put in place and that’s up to the government to come up with the remedies or tools ...that they have the resources to enforce,” Donnelly told Reuters.

Donnelly was speaking as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited the steel city of Hamilton to reassure workers, as part of his week-long tour to defend Canadian jobs. On Monday, Trudeau called Trump to stress the need to preserve the “mutually beneficial” cross border supply chains.

The North American steel industry is heavily integrated, with raw materials, steel and parts crossing the U.S.-Canadian border several times before a finished product such as a vehicle or refrigerator is sold to consumers. About 65 per cent of the Hamilton port’s tonnage is iron ore and coal used to make steel.

Hamilton, with a population of 700,000, houses Dofasco’s mill, coking and finishing operations at Stelco and collection of smaller operations that directly employ about 10,000 people in the city. tation Agency more authority to intervene in disputes between shippers and carriers, and also give shippers the right to present cost analyses during final-offer arbitration (FOA) hearings. The group claims the amendments would give suppliers of lumber, natural resources and other commodities a more equal playing field during disputes.

“Speedy passage (of Bill C-49) will do nothing to alleviate the immediate crisis for grain or any other commodity,” the letter says.

In addition to the mining association, the coalition includes the Western Canadian Shippers’ Coalition, Forest Products Association of Canada, Pulse Canada, Fertilizer Canada, the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada, and the Freight Management Association of Canada.

The letter comes just as the window to amend Bill C-49 is closing. Senate committee hearings on the bill closed on Feb. 28 after the second reading, leaving one final opening to amend the broad-based legislation. Any changes in the senate have to be sent to the House for final approval.

“It’s the eleventh hour,” Gratton said.