[CTC] Machinists & Steelworkers statements on tariffs

Sat Feb 1 20:44:04 PST 2025

https://www.goiam.org/news/iam-union-u-s-tariffs-on-canada-hurt-workers-in-both-countries-weaken-alliance-in-trade-fight-against-china-others/ <https://www.goiam.org/news/iam-union-u-s-tariffs-on-canada-hurt-workers-in-both-countries-weaken-alliance-in-trade-fight-against-china-others/>

IAM Union: U.S. Tariffs on Canada Hurt Workers in Both Countries, Weaken Alliance in Trade Fight Against China, Others

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1, 2025 — Brian Bryant, International President of the 600,000-member IAM Union, and David Chartrand, IAM Canadian General Vice President, issued the following statement in response to President Donald Trump imposing a 25% tariff on all Canadian goods imported into the United States:

“The IAM is a strong advocate of trade policy that helps protect and grow jobs in the United States and Canada. This includes both nations working as allies, not enemies, with regards to policy to combat illegal trade practices by countries such as China.

“The IAM represents hundreds of thousands of members in the aerospace, defense and other manufacturing sectors in both countries. Many IAM members work at companies that rely heavily on integrated supply chains between the U.S. and Canada.”

“The 25% tariffs on Canadian goods imported to the U.S., will result in job losses, increased prices, and a variety of other negative impacts. This trade war action is unjust and should be reconsidered. 

“As we’ve stated in the past, the IAM supports tariffs when used properly. Tariffs are just one tool in the toolbox to combat wrongdoing by nations, such as China, that cheat global trade rules for an unfair advantage of the U.S. and Canada.

“The U.S. and Canada have a longstanding history of being close allies and working collaboratively to help level the global playing field. The Trump administration imposing tariffs on Canadian imports could reverse this partnership and ultimately lead to job losses for both nations.” 

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is one of North America’s largest and most diverse industrial trade unions, representing approximately 600,000 active and retired members in the aerospace, defense, airlines, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries across the United States and Canada.

https://www.usw.org/news/media-center/releases/2025/usw-calls-on-trump-to-reconsider-tariffs-on-canada <https://www.usw.org/news/media-center/releases/2025/usw-calls-on-trump-to-reconsider-tariffs-on-canada>

FEB 01, 2025
USW Calls on Trump to Reconsider Tariffs on Canada
Contact: Jess Kamm Broomell, jkamm at usw.org <mailto:jkamm at usw.org>, 412-562-2444

(Pittsburgh) – United Steelworkers (USW) International President David McCall issued the following statement today following President Donald Trump’s announcement that he would institute 25 percent tariffs on goods from Canada:

“The USW has long called for systemic reform of our broken trade system, but lashing out at key allies like Canada is not the way forward.

“Canada has proven itself time and again to be one of our strongest partners when it comes to national security, and our economies are deeply integrated.

“The key to eliminating unfair competition, confronting global overcapacity in crucial sectors, and stemming the flow of unfairly traded products making their way into North America is targeted tariffs on countries that violate our trade laws and greater coordination with our trusted allies – not sweeping actions that undermine crucial relationships.

“Approximately $1.3 trillion <https://chamber.ca/news/the-cost-of-canada-u-s-trade-disruption-on-full-display-with-new-trade-tracker/#:~:text=Every%20day%2C%20%243.6%20billion%20in,jobs%20tied%20to%20U.S.%20exports.> worth of goods cross the Canada-U.S. border annually, supporting 1.4 million American jobs and 2.3 million Canadian jobs. These tariffs don’t just hurt Canada. They threaten the stability of industries on both sides of the border.

“Workers and their communities are counting on their elected leaders to make strategic decisions that help confront bad trade actors like China while at the same time fostering domestic manufacturing capacity.

“Our union calls on President Trump to reverse course on Canadian tariffs so that we can focus on trade solutions that will serve working families for the long-term.”

The USW represents 850,000 workers employed in metals, mining, pulp and paper, rubber, chemicals, glass, auto supply and the energy-producing industries, along with a growing number of workers in health care, public sector, higher education, tech and service occupations.

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Arthur Stamoulis
Citizens Trade Campaign
(202) 494-8826

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