A White House official confirmed that new 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum will be added to any existing duties on Canadian imports, resulting in a possible combined tariff of 50% on the two metals. President Donald Trump signed executive orders imposing these tariffs on Monday, intending to start enforcement by March 12.
Previous threats from the Trump administration included a 25% across-the-board tariff on Canadian goods, later paired with a 10% tariff on Canadian energy. Although the energy levy remained in limbo, the latest executive orders confirm that these steel and aluminum tariffs will not replace previous measures; instead, they add another layer of cost.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with US Vice President JD Vance in Paris at an artificial intelligence summit, where he urged the administration to reconsider the new duties. Trudeau has deemed the tariffs “unacceptable,” warning of a “firm and clear” response if they take effect as announced.
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Meanwhile, Canada’s provincial premiers, led by Ontario Premier Doug Ford, have taken their message directly to American stakeholders in Washington. Ford is asking US business leaders to lobby Republican lawmakers and Trump, arguing that tariffs would damage both economies and jeopardize deeply integrated cross-border supply chains.
Canada is the top supplier of US steel and aluminum imports, while Mexico is third biggest in steel imports. Data shows that Canada alone provided 3.2 million metric tons of aluminum for US domestic consumption and shipped 6.6 million net tons of steel to the US last year.
Ford and others suggest that Trump’s aggressive stance could be part of a strategy ahead of the mandatory review of the Canada–U.S.–Mexico Agreement. The last major renegotiation took place in 2018 and concluded in 2020, replacing the North American Free Trade Agreement. With Trump threatening renewed tariffs at any moment, Canadian officials are weighing the possibility that the administration aims to renegotiate key provisions of the trade deal sooner rather than later.
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