Hundreds of Canadians rendered unemployed: How Trump’s sanctions are shaping Canada’s job market?

Hundreds of workers employed in the Canadian steel and aluminum sectors have lost their jobs over the past weeks. The reason? US President Donald Trump’s massive sanctions. The US imposed 25 per cent global tariffs on steel and aluminum on March 12. Canada was hit the hardest as it is the top supplier of steel to the US.

Marty Warren, national director of the United Steelworkers, said he has heard from at least 200 workers that they are already out of a job.

Canada Metal Processing Group is one firm that has announced it will reduce its workforce by 140 people. It blamed “the threat of incoming tariffs from the United States on steel and steel derivatives” for the impending sackings. Similarly, Ontario-based Algoma Steel has also laid off 27 people, according to Reuters.

“With the full-blown tariffs coming in on April 2 … it’ll probably affect 100,000 of our members,” warned Warren.

‘Just the beginning’

But experts say this could just be the beginning as more sanctions are expected on April 2.

Earlier on Wednesday, Trump also announced a 25 per cent tariff on auto imports, a move the White House claimed would foster domestic manufacturing.

This was bound to hit Canada again as autos are the country’s second-largest export.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney was quick to slam the move, saying it was a “direct attack” on his country.

“This is a very direct attack. We will defend our workers. We will defend our companies. We will defend our country," AP quoted Carney as saying.

Canadians anxious

Meanwhile, a new poll has suggested that 38 per cent of employed Canadians are worried about losing their jobs over the next year.

The Leger poll for The Canadian Press showed that 44 per cent of respondents from Ontario said they were “concerned” about losing jobs to Trump’s tariffs.

This survey was conducted before Trump announced additional tariffs on autos on Wednesday.

A Leger poll earlier this month found that the trade war with the US has become the biggest political concern for Canadians, surpassing inflation.