‘This is going to hurt’: U.S. steel tariffs claim southwestern Ontario jobs

A steel wire manufacturer and supplier in Ingersoll has laid off workers because of tariffs, and more is coming, CTV London's Sean Irvine reports.

The impact of a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian steel is already being – painfully felt – in our region.

More than a dozen layoffs have hit an Ingersoll steel product manufacturer – with its Quebec-based parent company warning more job losses could be coming if tariffs remain in place.

Sivaco currently employs 100.

Outside its production facility, a banner touts its 50-year history in Ingersoll.

031325_U.S. steel tariffs claim SW Ontario jobs A 25 per cent tariff on Canadian steel has already prompted more than a dozen layoffs at an Ingersoll steel product manufacturer – Sivaco (Sean Irvine/CTV News London)

But, along that timeline, no one could have foreseen a devastating trade war with America.

It is ominous news for a town reliant on goods exported to the U.S.

GM Cami and its suppliers are the biggest concern for officials, but Ingersoll is also home to multiple small and medium businesses reliant on American trade.

“I think this is a wake-up call for a lot of our businesses”, said Al Simm, a past president of the local Chamber of Commerce and the current general manager of Community Futures, an organization that supports small businesses.

031325_Simm steel tariffs London Al Simm, past president of the local Chamber of Commerce, and current general manager of Community Futures, March 13, 2025 (Sean Irvine/CTV News London)

Simm contends that upper-levels of government will need to step up to help smaller communities as the impact of tariffs deepens.

If not, he fears there will be more job losses.

“It’s going to hurt. It’s going to hurt those families, if people are laid off and, obviously, we’re going to be here.”

Simm said his office will point impacted employees to community supports while offering direct aid and potential financial assistance to small businesses.

It is a small comfort for those impacted at Sivaco.

In multiple emails, a company representative stated the firm is “working hard to main orders and capture new customers in Canada.”

031325_U.S. steel tariffs claim SW Ontario jobs A 25 per cent tariff on Canadian steel has already prompted more than a dozen layoffs at an Ingersoll steel product manufacturer – Sivaco (Sean Irvine/CTV News London)

But to keep its workers employed, Sivaco is imploring for continued government pressure while demanding all new institutional and infrastructure projects use only Canadian steel.

Simm echoes the sentiment to buy Canadian while pledging support to the workers and the firms now in survival mode.

“It’s unfortunate that, you know, these companies are impacted. Nobody expected this.”

Or asked for it, he maintained.

“There’s a lot of chaos right now. And, it’s coming from the United States and it’s not needed.”