Sask. steel workers call on feds to restrict foreign steel as U.S. tariffs intensify

WATCH: Steelworkers in Sask. are calling on the federal government to implement measures that would protect steel industry jobs. Wayne Mantyka explains.

Saskatchewan steelworkers are calling on the federal government to implement measures that would protect steel industry jobs. It follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to increase tariffs on steel and aluminum to 50 per cent.

The United Steel Workers Union says Canada should follow suit with tariffs on foreign steel being imported into the country.

Saskatchewan-made steel destined for the U.S. likely won’t be leaving the Evraz plant yard in Regina, according to USW Local 5890 President Mike Day.

“With the impact of the 50 per cent, everything’s at a halt right now. Nothing will be going. No slabs will be shipped to our Portland plant,” he told reporters Wednesday.

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The U.S. doubling its tariffs on steel imports officially went into effect 12:01 Wednesday. It’s a move Trump’s believes will protect the American steel industry.

The steel workers union discussed the impact of the tariffs at a leadership meeting in Watrous Wednesday – reiterating the need for the federal government to restrict foreign steel.

“When you have private industry that’s willing to bring in cheap Mexican, Indian, Korean, Chinese pipe, steel and it gets on our shores, they’ve got to be looking out for the Canadian steel industry and they don’t seem to be doing that,” Day explained.

The NDP Opposition made an appearance at the union meeting. It called on the province to use Saskatchewan-made steel in government projects.

“There are things that we think the province should be doing, continued prioritization of Saskatchewan steel, cancelling American contracts at a time when we have the American president of the United States kicking our workers and our industries,” MLA Aleana Young explained.

Regina’s Evraz steel plants was operating at less than full capacity prior to the imposition of the tariffs. The union fears that layoffs will be inevitable unless government takes steps to protect Canada’s steel industry.