‘Prices are going to skyrocket’: N.S. sheet metal company keeps close eye on U.S. steel tariffs

A Nova Scotia company is concerned with how U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum will affect them.

Business is good at Nova Scotia Sheet Metal Ltd., but general manager Brian Carver is keeping an eye on the incoming U.S. tariffs.

“Essentially we’re putting on a 25 per cent tariff without exception on all aluminum and all steel,” says President Donald Trump.

While Carver’s company doesn’t import or export directly to the United States, their supplier does, so there’s concern a tariff war will create a trickle down effect on their day-to-day costs.

“Prices are going to skyrocket and it’s going to slow down business,” Carver says.

Trump has changed his mind in the past and the uncertainty is impacting business decisions.

“You’re not sure when we should buy or how much we should buy because when it comes, you’re not gonna see it. You can bring in some orders ahead, but there’s only so much out there, right?” says Carver.

Nova Scotia exports around $137.4 million worth of iron, steel and aluminum products to the U.S. annually.

Provincial officials are in Washington trying to convince their counterparts both countries lose in a levy battle.

“It is evident that Canada will continue to expect this level of threat and uncertainty from the U.S. under this administration and Nova Scotia will be ready to respond along with the rest of Team Canada,” says Monica Grace Maclean, spokesperson with the Department of Growth and Development.

Donald Trump imposed similar tariffs in 2018. Canada matched that in a tariff war that lasted a year, causing the machines at Carver’s shop to grind to a halt.

“All the orders, everything just came to a stop. Our sales dropped, everything dropped,” he says.

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