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Thursday June 5, 2025

Canada's steel industry faces turmoil as Trump's tariffs and unresolved steel dumping issues challenge North American trade relations.

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday June 5, 2025

Printed in The Toronto Star. Also, Your West Central Voice.  Also, The Albuquerque Journal. And, published on Reddit.

A Steel Trap for North America

The recent hike in steel and aluminum tariffs by President Trump has sparked a heated debate, with the move likely to cause significant economic pain on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border. While there’s no denying that steel dumping is a problem that needs addressing, the root of the issue doesn’t lie in Canada. Instead, it’s countries like China and South Korea that have been flooding the markets with cheap steel, creating unfair competition.

Canada has tried to tackle this, imposing tariffs on Chinese steel, but the response has been slow and insufficient. Ottawa must act more decisively to protect its industries and work in concert with the U.S. to address these challenges. However, the way forward should not involve undermining free trade agreements like the USMCA, which have long supported economic cooperation between the two nations.

News: Trump hikes steel and aluminum tariffs to 50%

For Canada, the increased tariffs threaten to cripple industries and lead to job losses, particularly in steel-dependent regions. Meanwhile, American consumers are likely to face higher prices as manufacturers pass on the increased costs. This could have a ripple effect on various sectors, from automotive to construction.

Politically, these tariffs could serve as a means for President Trump to generate revenue to fund tax cuts that largely benefit the wealthy. In this scenario, the rich gain while everyday consumers and workers bear the brunt of the economic fallout.

The solution lies in a collaborative approach that targets the real culprits of steel dumping without resorting to damaging protectionist measures. Both Canada and the U.S. need to engage in meaningful dialogue and develop strategies that uphold fair trade and economic stability for all involved.

Tariff Turmoil Goes on…

Thursday June 5, 2025

Living in Hamilton, Canada’s steel heartland, I’ve seen firsthand how one leader’s motivations can ripple through an industry, affecting countless lives. President Trump’s decision to double tariffs on steel and aluminum imports feels like déjà vu for us here. We’ve been through this before, and it’s unsettling to witness such a strategy unfold again.

May 11, 2019

Saturday May 11, 2019 – The above cartoon, originally drawn in 2018, remains as relevant in 2025 as it was then. It captures the enduring nature of trade tensions between the U.S. and China, highlighting the ongoing impact of tariffs and political strategies that continue to affect global economies and everyday consumers. This visual commentary underscores how little the fundamental issues have shifted over the years, despite numerous negotiations and changes in leadership.

The world watches as Trump pursues what many see as an ill-conceived plan, one that history has shown may not lead to the prosperity promised. The notion of ‘making America great again’ seems ironic when the very policies meant to protect could, in fact, harm industries both at home and in allied nations like ours. It’s a stark reminder of how interconnected our economies are and how critical it is to find solutions that uplift rather than undermine. Is this what winning looks like? For those of us in Hamilton, it feels more like a step back than a leap towards any so-called golden age.

Substack is a great platform for me as a cartoonist. I’m mindful of the layoffs hitting many talented people, but I’m keeping a positive outlook. Take a look at the animation of my June 5, 2025, cartoon, and thanks for your support!

Thursday October 15, 2009

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator - Thursday October 15, 2009 Big problems in higher dollar There is a certain giddiness attached to a soaring Canadian dollar, with visions of cheaper trips to Florida or New York for those who canÊafford to travel. There is also a degree of smugness about us doing better than the Americans in managing the economy. We should dismiss such thoughts, however. The fact is that a higher-valued dollar is a disaster for Ontario's economy, based as it is onÊexports of manufactured goods into the U.S. market. Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME) estimates that, for every hike of oneÊcent in the value of our dollar, 25,000 factory jobs are lost. And since the beginning of this year, the loonie has gone up 15 cents. Partly this is attributable to our better fiscal situation, in comparison to the tax-averse Americans. (The U.S. deficit Ð a staggering $1.6Êtrillion this year Ð is "unsustainable," according to the Congressional Budget Office.) And partly it can be traced to rising prices forÊcommodities, particularly oil, for the loonie is now a "petro-dollar." For manufacturers, this is a double whammy: the higher dollar makes their products less competitive in the American market, and higherÊoil prices drive up their costs. "Canadian manufacturers are really caught between a rock and a hard place," says CME President Jayson Myers. Prime Minister StephenÊHarper notes the "difficult effects" on the economy. (Source: Toronto Star) Canada, Dollar, loonie, strength, strong, imports, exports, fish, skeleton, bones, economy

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday October 15, 2009

Big problems in higher dollar

There is a certain giddiness attached to a soaring Canadian dollar, with visions of cheaper trips to Florida or New York for those who can afford to travel. There is also a degree of smugness about us doing better than the Americans in managing the economy.

We should dismiss such thoughts, however. The fact is that a higher-valued dollar is a disaster for Ontario’s economy, based as it is on exports of manufactured goods into the U.S. market. Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME) estimates that, for every hike of one cent in the value of our dollar, 25,000 factory jobs are lost. And since the beginning of this year, the loonie has gone up 15 cents.

Partly this is attributable to our better fiscal situation, in comparison to the tax-averse Americans. (The U.S. deficit – a staggering $1.6 trillion this year – is “unsustainable,” according to the Congressional Budget Office.) And partly it can be traced to rising prices for commodities, particularly oil, for the loonie is now a “petro-dollar.”

For manufacturers, this is a double whammy: the higher dollar makes their products less competitive in the American market, and higher oil prices drive up their costs.

“Canadian manufacturers are really caught between a rock and a hard place,” says CME President Jayson Myers. Prime Minister Stephen Harper notes the “difficult effects” on the economy. (Source: Toronto Star)