Amid tariffs and to avoid layoffs, Hamilton steel fabricator pivots from mostly U.S. to Canadian projects

Samantha Beattie · CBC News

· Posted: Jul 17, 2025 12:44 PM EDT | Last Updated: 7 hours ago

A Hamilton alloy fabricator says it has mislaid a immense chunk of its U.S. concern arsenic President Donald Trump's steep tariffs persist.

But Walters Group has besides picked up capable enactment successful Canada — including for the caller Calgary Flames arena — to debar layoffs for the clip being, said enforcement vice-president Walt Koppelaar.

He told reporters Wednesday that earlier the U.S. imposed tariffs earlier this year, astir 70 per cent of Walters Group's steel fabrications were exported to the U.S. Now, that fig is astir zero. 

"We person to beryllium precise focused connected Canadian work," Koppelaar said. "We got things going connected southbound of the borderline we can't control. But what we tin power is present successful Canada. Let's marque Canada the champion and let's enactment Canadian alloy fabricators." 

Trump archetypal imposed 25 per cent tariffs connected the Canadian alloy and aluminum sectors successful March, past hiked them to 50 per cent successful June. The U.S. has besides levied akin tariffs connected galore different countries, including China. 

Koppelaar described China arsenic a "bad actor" and supports Canada's attempts to clamp down.

"When the U.S. closes its borders to definite products, Canadian borders are inactive unfastened and each that fabricated alloy is coming into Canada," helium said.

WATCH | Carney is asked astir anticipation of U.S. tariffs successful a deal, imaginable retaliation:

The astir caller of Canada's attempts came earlier Wednesday, erstwhile Koppelaar stood alongside Mark Carney arsenic the premier curate toured the facility and promised to bounds the amount of cheap, overseas alloy entering the country.

Carney said caller quotas would beryllium successful spot by the extremity of the month, gathering disconnected of changes his authorities announced successful June. The tariff quota strategy allows lone a acceptable level of merchandise to participate Canada astatine a little tariff rate. 

Calls for much protections for home market

Steel products from non-free commercialized statement countries, including China, volition spot their tariff complaint quota tighten to half of 2024 volumes. A 50 per cent tariff volition beryllium imposed connected immoderate imports beyond those levels, Carney said. 

Countries with escaped commercialized agreements with Canada, excluding the U.S. and Mexico, will spot a 50 per cent tariff applied to imports surpassing 2024 volumes. The premier curate besides said Canada volition instrumentality further tariffs of 25 per cent connected imports from each non-U.S. countries containing alloy melted and poured successful China.

It's a measurement successful the close direction, said Koppelar, but helium and different Canadian alloy producers are waiting for much changes from the national government.

When Ottawa financially supports large companies and automakers setting up successful Canada, there should beryllium "more strings attached" truthful alloy is sourced domestically and not from the U.S. oregon China, helium said.

That's also important for nationalist infrastructure projects, said Keanin Loomis, president and CEO of the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction. The Hamilton nonmigratory was also astatine Carney's announcement Wednesday and supports the quota tariff measures.

While initially the companies using home alloy whitethorn beryllium entering higher bids for contracts, the prime is higher than alloy made oregon fabricated successful countries similar China, and with little issues down the line, Loomis said.

"I deliberation Canadian taxpayers expect that erstwhile they're checking the labels of their nutrient close present successful market stores and being mindful of wherever they're travelling, that erstwhile we're gathering a span successful Canada, we're supporting Canadian firms due to the fact that that wealth circulates wrong our economy."

The authorities has made changes to the national procurement process, lone awarding projects to companies utilizing Canadian alloy unless the materials aren't disposable domestically.