Steelworkers in the Canadian city of Hamilton see President Donald Trump’s latest trade war escalation as a wake-up call, insisting US efforts to protect struggling metal producers demand an equivalent national response. Hamilton is known locally as “Steeltown,” with expansive industrial plants dominating the view from the main bridge that leads into the city. Hamilton has endured countless setbacks as the steel industry that drove its growth through much of 20th Century declined. Trump’s decision to double steel and aluminum tariffs to a crippling 50 percent did not come as a shock to those who have spent decades in the industry. “Steel is like a roller-coaster,” said Jake Lombardo, who retired after 38 years at Stelco, one of Hamilton’s main plants.  Lombardo’s career spanned the era that saw automation and cheaper foreign product hollow out Hamilton’s steel sector.He voiced a degree of understanding for Trump’s efforts to shield US producers from external competition. “I’m not a Trump supporter, but one thing I like (about) what he said, he wants to do things in-house. And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that,” Lombardo, 69, told AFP. “We should have been doing this a long time ago.” Hamilton’s steel industry was born in the early part of the last century, hitting its peak in the decades following World War II, when the main local union, United Steelworkers Local 1005, counted more than 12,000 members. That number has since fallen to about 650, said union president Ron Wells. Wells said he wasn’t opposed to a future where Canadian producers serve Canadian demand and cross-border trade is reduced. But, like Lombardo, he believes Ottawa needs to create the environment that ensures that Canadian steelmakers thrive. “We’ve been saying that for, like years, if not decades,” Wells told AFP. – ‘Better late than never’? -The union chief said he was encouraged by Prime Minister Mark Carney’s pledge to counter Trump’s trade war by boosting internal trade and ushering in an era of massive construction across Canada. Asked about the prospect that Hamilton could benefit from Carney’s recent promise that his government would “build baby build,” Wells said: “we applaud it.””It’s better late than never.”Carney on Wednesday called Trump’s decision to double steel and aluminum tariffs “unjustified” and “illegal” and promised that Canada — the largest supplier of foreign steel and aluminum to the United States — will respond. But in the short term, Wells said there is cause for concern. Stelco, which was bought by the US steel producer Cleveland-Cliffs last year, had been sending about 30 percent of its output to the United States, Wells said. Those orders largely dried up when Trump imposed a blanket 25 percent tariff on all metal imports in March. But Stelco was still selling to Canadian clients who were making products subsequently sold to the United States, with the American importers absorbing the 25 percent tariff hit. – ‘The wrong foe’ -At 50 percent, Wells voiced fear that business could vanish.”People are just pissed off that (Trump) keeps changing his mind and he’s playing chicken with the economy,” Wells told AFP. “Our members want to see the tariffs situation get resolved. So go back to full production and we can share the wealth.”The Canadian Steel Producers Association, an industry group, said Wednesday that “at a 25 per cent tariff rate, we saw significant layoffs, curtailed investments and a significant drop of shipments to the United States.” “At a 50 per cent tariff rate, the US market is effectively closed to Canadian steel, leaving billions of dollars of Canadian steel without a market,” it warned.Throughout Trump’s trade war, Canadian workers in targeted sectors — notably auto and metal — have voiced frustration over the president’s decision to harm a bilateral trade relationship widely seen as mutually beneficial. “We think they’re picking on the wrong foe,” Wells said.  Tony Mclaughlin, who has worked for Stelco for 47 years, told AFP he “always thought we’d be exempt,” from tariffs.” “Is he trying to get a new trade agreement?” He asked.”Maybe that’s the big plan.”

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday it is “extremely hard” to reach a deal with China over a trade impasse that has roiled global markets, while his doubling of metal tariffs fueled tensions with key partners.Trump’s latest salvos came as ministers from Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries gathered in Paris to discuss the world economy’s outlook in light of the trade war.The US leader’s sweeping duties on allies and adversaries have strained ties with trading partners and sparked a flurry of negotiations.The White House has suggested Trump will speak to Chinese President Xi Jinping this week, raising hopes they can soothe tensions and speed up a trade deal between the world’s two biggest economies.But early Wednesday, Trump appeared to dampen hopes for a quick resolution.”I like President XI of China, always have, and always will, but he is VERY TOUGH, AND EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE A DEAL WITH!!!” he posted on his Truth Social platform.Asked about the remarks, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said Beijing’s “principles and stance on developing Sino-US relations are consistent.”China was the biggest target of Trump’s April tariff blitz, hit with additional levies of 145 percent on its goods as both sides engaged in tit-for-tat escalation. China’s countermeasures on US goods reached 125 percent.Both sides agreed to temporarily lower rates in May, while Trump delayed most sweeping measures on other countries until July 9.- US neighbors incensed -Trump’s remarks came hours after he increased tariffs on aluminum and steel imports from 25 percent to 50 percent on Wednesday, raising pressure on key trading partners, while exempting Britain from the higher levy for now.The move drew sharp rebukes from immediate neighbors Canada and Mexico, with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum vowing countermeasures if Trump did not grant tariff relief.Mexico will request an exemption from the higher metals tariff, Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard said.Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney blasted the levies as unjustified and illegal, adding that his country would respond.Trump’s tariffs have fanned worries among Canada’s workers. Ron Wells, president of United Steelworkers Local 1005 expressed concern that Canadian steel company Stelco could see significant parts of its orders dry up, impacting staff.The union’s members who work at the company want to see the tariffs situation resolved, he told AFP.”People are just pissed off that (Trump) keeps changing his mind and he’s playing chicken with the economy,” Wells said.Tensions could surge further in the coming weeks, with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick opening the door Wednesday to potential tariffs on imported commercial aircraft and parts.Lutnick said Washington is expecting an investigation update on such imports and will soon “set the standard for aircraft part tariffs.”While some of Trump’s most sweeping levies face legal challenges, they have been allowed to remain in place as an appeals process takes place.- US-EU talks ‘advancing’ -The United States and European Union struck a more conciliatory note after talks on the sidelines of the OECD gathering.US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said after talks with EU counterpart Maros Sefcovic that negotiations were “advancing quickly.”Greer added that the meeting was “very constructive and indicates a willingness by the EU to work with us to find a concrete way forward to achieve reciprocal trade.”EU goods will be hit with 50-percent tariffs on July 9 unless the 27-nation bloc reaches a deal with Washington. The EU has vowed to retaliate.Sefcovic said the doubling of metal tariffs “doesn’t help the negotiations” but both sides were nonetheless “making progress.”The US-EU meeting took place a day after the OECD cut its forecast for global economic growth, blaming Trump’s tariffs for the downgrade.A report by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office in Washington found Wednesday that Trump’s tariffs would reduce the size of the US economy and fuel inflation, while lowering federal deficits.After talks Tuesday between UK Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds and Greer, London said US tariffs on metal imports from Britain remain at 25 percent for now. Both sides need to work out duties and quotas in line with the terms of a recently signed trade pact.burs-bs-bys/aha