Steelworkers back Canada holding the line on trade, call for a stronger response to protect Canadian jobs and industry

TORONTO, Aug. 22, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- United Steelworkers union (USW) National Director Marty Warren issued the following statement on the suspension of Canada-U.S. trade negotiations and the imposition of new 50% U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods:

“Canada was right to hold the line rather than accept a deal that did not adequately protect Canadian workers, jobs and communities.

We have said throughout these negotiations that no deal is better than a bad deal. The terms being discussed – including significant tariffs and restrictive quotas on Canadian steel and barriers across other key sectors — raised serious concerns for Canadian workers and industries.

The new needless 50% tariffs coming into force today will have real consequences for workers, businesses and communities on both sides of the border. We support the government's commitment to respond dollar for dollar, but retaliation alone is not enough.

Ottawa must move quickly to support affected workers and industries. Tariff revenues should protect jobs and strengthen Canadian industrial capacity, while Employment Insurance, Work-Sharing and other measures must be improved to support incomes and keep workers attached to their jobs.

Building Canada's economic strength at home is now even more urgent. We need stronger Buy Canadian procurement and investments that create demand for Canadian steel, aluminum, wood, copper and other Canadian-made products.

Canada should remain ready to negotiate a fair agreement, but we cannot build our economic future around the next tariff threat. We need to keep building here, protecting Canadian jobs and diversifying toward reliable trading partners.

Canadian workers did not create this trade war. Governments must make sure workers and communities do not bear the cost.”

About the United Steelworkers union

The USW represents 225,000 members in nearly every economic sector across Canada and is the largest private-sector union in North America, with 850,000 members in Canada, the United States and the Caribbean.

Each year, thousands of workers choose to join the USW because of the union’s strong track record in creating healthier, safer and more respectful workplaces and negotiating better working conditions and fairer compensation — including good wages, benefits and pensions.

For more information, please contact: 
Jamey Heath, USW Communications, jheath@usw.ca, 416 997-7209