United Steelworkers Urge US and Canada to End Trade War

Roxanne Brown, international president of the United Steelworkers union, called on the Canadian and American governments to resume trade negotiations during a press conference in Laval, Quebec, on September 15, 2026. The demand follows a trade war that began this summer when the United States imposed 50 per cent tariffs on steel, leading Canada to implement equivalent counter-tariffs.

Brown argued that the North American steel industry depends on cross-border collaboration and urged leaders to prioritize workers while addressing competition from China, which she claims is flooding markets with low-cost surplus steel. Local union leaders described a dire situation, noting that factories are closing one by one or remaining on life support under the current tariff regime.

While the Canadian government has provided 170 million dollars through interprovincial trade and workforce response programs, union representatives stated these measures arrived too late. Local branch presidents requested further market injections to support workers who have already been laid off.