“Today’s decision by the U.S. Administration ignores the truth about Canada’s relationship with the U.S., will do nothing to address the issue of dumping, and will ultimately hurt businesses, jobs and the economies of both countries.

“The Canadian Chamber calls on the federal government to respond quickly and in a manner strong enough to obtain an exclusion for Canada. We need to act vigorously to support our domestic industries, and to send a message to the U.S. Administration that their unilateral protectionist measures will not come without a serious cost to themselves.

“Canada is an ally, supplier to and customer of the U.S. We are partners in NATO and NORAD. Our steel and aluminum industries are a source of critical supply for American manufacturers and its defence industry. Business, defence and political leaders of all stripes and on both sides of our border understand this and we remain grateful for the strong support they have shown.

“We applaud the Government of Canada’s work to date on behalf of our steel and aluminum industries and urge them to advocate for a reversal of these punitive measures. In the meantime, and in addition to implementing retaliatory measures in response to today’s U.S. decision, we ask that the federal government continue its ongoing work to ensure that steel and aluminum are not dumped into Canada from third countries.”