(Toronto, ON – April 27, 2026) — As business leaders from across the province gathered for the 2026 Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) AGM and Convention under the theme “Ontario Connected: Business Without Barriers,” a clear message emerged: the recent expansion of U.S. Section 232 tariffs is putting jobs, investment, and integrated supply chains at risk in Ontario, and across the binational Great Lakes region.
The recent expansion of U.S. duties to the entire value of steel, aluminum, copper and derivative products – not just the metal content – poses an immediate risk to 15,000 jobs in southwestern Ontario alone, and thousands more in manufacturing supply chains across the province and in U.S. states.
“After a year in which tariffs devastated manufacturing in both Canada and the U.S., this new measure throws another wrench in the engine of the North American economy,” said Daniel Tisch, President and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. “These tariffs are not well-understood, and that’s why Ontario businesses are sounding the alarm. Without swift relief, orders will vanish, investments will be shelved, and good jobs will be lost.”
For many businesses, the strain is already visible. Companies report absorbing sudden cost increases, losing long-standing U.S. customers, and delaying or cancelling expansion plans. Some are scaling back production or pausing hiring decisions.
“Businesses need two things from governments right now: relief and resolution,” Tisch added. “In the short term, that means reinstating remissions and providing targeted cash-flow support. But we also need a durable fix, one that’s negotiated between the two nations. If we get this wrong, we’re not just hurting Ontario, we’re undermining North America’s competitive edge.”
As Canada and the United States prepare for the upcoming CUSMA review, Ontario’s business community is united in its message: protect what works, fix what doesn’t, and remove barriers that put jobs and communities at risk.
“Our Chamber supports the call from the federal and provincial governments to support business sectors that are being impacted unfairly targeted by Trump’s ridiculous tariffs. Support is needed now to help these sectors and their businesses get through this period of crisis before the CUSMA negotiations start. We cannot wait for the US midterm elections or a return to sanity in the White House. Action is required now, and we have full confidence that Canada and Ontario will step up again.”
— Ian McLean, President and CEO, The Greater KW Chamber of Commerce
Credit: Businesses Call for Urgent Action on Expanded U.S. Tariffs at Ontario Chamber AGM | OCC
