Imposition de tarifs sur l'aluminium et l'acier exportés aux États Unis - Le gouvernement du Québec condamne sans réserve la décision de l'administration américaine
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Government announcement
31 May 2018

The Government of Québec strongly condemns the decision of the US administration

Imposition de tarifs sur l'aluminium et l'acier exportés aux États Unis - Le gouvernement du Québec condamne sans réserve la décision de l'administration américaine

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Imposition of tariffs on aluminum and steel exported to the US

Québec City, May 31, 2018 — The Government of Québec strongly condemns the decision of the US administration to impose, as of June 1, a tariff of 10% on aluminum and 25% on steel exported by Canada to the United States, a decision that will have negative effects on both sides of the border.

Accordingly, the Government of Québec supports the decision of the federal government to impose retaliatory measures on imports from the United States and to contest the US tariffs before the governing bodies of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Dominique Anglade, Deputy Premier, Minister of Economy, Science and Innovation, and Minister responsible for the Digital Strategy, and Christine St-Pierre, Minister of International Relations and La Francophonie and Minister responsible for the Laurentides region, wish to reiterate the Government of Québec’s support for these key sectors of Québec’s economy that are facing these new protectionist measures from US authorities.

Quotes:

The imposition of these tariffs constitutes a new and direct attack on our economy, aimed at exports, and will harm the aluminum and steel industries on both sides of the border. We intend to protect our industries, which employ about 30,000 workers in Québec. This is why, in order to support our businesses, we are currently evaluating the implementation of programs similar to those undertaken in the softwood lumber case. In collaboration with the federal government, we will also continue working with our US counterparts and the representatives of major US industrial customers, which oppose the imposition of these tariffs, to exempt Canadian aluminum and steel from these new US protectionist measures.

– Dominique Anglade, Deputy Premier, Minister of Economy, Science and Innovation and Minister responsible for the Digital Strategy

We share the desire to create a common front to come to an agreement with the US for a complete and permanent tariff exemption for aluminum and steel with the key players in Québec’s aluminum and steel industry, as well as with the other provinces. To this end, we will continue to inform our US counterparts of the importance of open markets for the growth of our respective economies. Québec’s aluminum and steel industries are highly integrated, especially in regard to the US defence, automobile and aerospace sectors. Therefore, the imposition of these tariffs is completely unwarranted, goes against the interests of several major US industries and could undermine the supply chain.

– Christine St-Pierre, Minister of International Relations and La Francophonie and Minister responsible for the Laurentides region

Key points:

  • In April 2017, the US administration ordered the US Department of Commerce (DOC) to conduct studies on the repercussions of aluminum and steel imports on national security. The DOC filed its reports in January 2018, in which it also analyzed the effects of these imports on the US aluminum and steel industries. The findings of these reports were made public last February.
  • On March 5, 2018, the US president, Donald Trump, said that Canada and Mexico’s temporary exemption from this tariff could be contingent on the signing of a new free trade agreement, which he considers fair, between the United States and these two countries. However, Canada still refuses to link discussions on aluminum and steel tariffs to the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
  • On May 31, 2018, the US administration announced that it would end the exemption. As a result, tariffs of 10% on aluminum and 25% on steel were imposed on June 1, 2018, for these Canadian exports to the United States.
  • More than 50% of the United States’ primary aluminum imports are from Canada, and roughly 60% of Québec steel exports are for the US market.
  • In 2017, Québec exported over $7 billion worth of aluminum to the United States, nearly 90% of all Québec aluminum exports.
  • In 2017, Québec exports to the United States of iron and steel products and products made from purchased steel accounted for $787 million and $291 million, respectively.
  • In Québec, the aluminum industry generates about 30,000 jobs, more than 7,000 of which are in the primary industry.
  • The metal product manufacturing sector represents 42,000 jobs, of which 3,200 are found in the steel industry and the manufacturing of steel products made from purchased steel.

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