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 goods from Canada:
“The USW has long called for systemic reform of our broken trade system, but lashing out at key allies like Canada is not the way forward.
“Canada has proven itself time and again to be one of our strongest partners when it comes to national security, and our economies are deeply integrated.
“The key to eliminating unfair competition, confronting global overcapacity in crucial sectors, and stemming the flow of unfairly traded products making their way into North America is targeted tariffs on countries that violate our trade laws and greater coordination with our trusted allies – not sweeping actions that undermine crucial relationships.
“Approximately $1.3 trillion worth of goods cross the Canada-U.S. border annually, supporting 1.4 million American jobs and 2.3 million Canadian jobs. These tariffs don’t just hurt Canada. They threaten the stability of industries on both sides of the border.
“Workers and their communities are counting on their elected leaders to make strategic decisions that help confront bad trade actors like China while at the same time fostering domestic manufacturing capacity.
“Our union calls on President Trump to reverse course on Canadian tariffs so that we can focus on trade solutions that will serve working families for the long-term.”
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.
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter
USW locals are receiving thousands of dollars towards the cost of hosting community events. There are two catches: the locals must contribute to the USW Family and Community Education Fund (FCEF) and the project must have an educational component Local 9344 family day This Quebec local organized a family day at Lac des Rapides in […]
Amid Trump’s trade war on Canada’s manufacturing capacity and its workers, the Steelworkers Humanity Fund organized a tour by partner unions from Mexico and Canadian experts to discuss the tariff impacts on workers and the economy. In September, the group visited USW Area Councils and locals, toured factories to meet members and participated in forums […]
Long Harbour, N.L. – Workers at DF Barnes have voted overwhelmingly to unionize with the United Steelworkers (USW), achieving a major organizing victory rooted in determination and collective action. The newly unionized workers are employed at DF Barnes’ operations in St. John’s, where they perform a range of skilled and semi-skilled jobs supporting construction, fabrication, […]