Trump to formally announce steel and aluminum tariffs Monday, including Canada

U.S. President Donald Trump said he will formally announce 25 per cent tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports Monday, including for Canada and Mexico.

He made the comments at a press conference aboard Air Force 1 as he travelled to New Orleans to watch the Super Bowl between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles.

The president did not provide details about the extent of the new tariffs or when they may go into effect.

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His announcement came after Fox News Channel aired a partial interview with Trump early Sunday, during which he said he wants to see Canada become a U.S. state.

The president claimed that the United States is “paying 200-billion-dollars a year” to its northern neighbour. This is a false claim. According to American government figures, the United States trade deficit was $63.3 billion USD in 2024, due mostly to American energy purchases from Canada. Excluding energy, America reported a trade surplus with Canada of approximately $30 billion USD.

Trump first imposed steel and aluminum tariffs at 25 and 10 per cent respectively during his first term in March 2018 using national security as justification.

Canada produces about a quarter of U.S. steel imports while Mexico supplies about half of that.

CHCH News spoke with the CEO of Cleveland Cliffs last week, who said that tariffs would be good for the company, which is an American company but has recently acquired Stelco.

Catherine Cobden, president and CEO of the Canadian Steel Producers Association, admits she is concerned with the incoming steel and aluminum tariffs.

“We are deeply concerned that U.S. President Donald Trump is again threatening more tariffs on Canada, this time more directly targeting the steel and aluminum sectors,” she said.

Cobden says when tariffs were implemented on Canadian Steel in 2018, it caused “massive disruptions and harm” on both sides of the border.

She has asked the federal government to intervene immediately with retaliatory tariffs.

Canada and Mexico are the largest and third largest exporters of steel to the United States.

New Chinese tariffs on certain U.S. goods also begin Monday.

The tariffs will include 15 per cent on certain coal and liquified natural gas, and 10 per cent on crude oil, certain vehicles and farm equipment.

China warns that “trade and tariff wars have no winners,” calling its actions a response to U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods.