Ottawa company Ideal Roofing prepares for tariffs

Significant tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum could cut into business a local roofing company does in the U.S. CTV’s Josh Marano reports.

Ideal Roofing is a family-owned metal roofing and siding manufacturer based out of Ottawa.

It’s been doing business with the U.S. for 60 years, but with tariffs on the horizon, owners say that could be a thing of the past.

“The unknown really is what’s stressing us out, it’s a stressful moment,” says vice president and co-owner Philippe Laplante.

Between 15 and 20 per cent of steel that Ideal Roofing sells goes into the U.S., but with a 25 per cent tariff on their goods going into effect at midnight, Laplante says they expect sales to take a massive hit.

“It’s very worrisome to add 25 per cent when they have local competitors. We have local competitors out there that are made in the U.S., that we fight with daily. It’s going to definitely be a challenge,” says Laplante. “Twenty-five per cent is one thing, but another 25 per cent the week after on steel and aluminum, that’s definitely worrisome.”

Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump signed a pair of presidential proclamations that will impose 25 per cent tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum starting March 12. Those tariffs would stack on top of the 25 per cent across-the-board tariff on Canadian goods.

“I think, seriously, we could lose that 20 per cent of our sales that are in the U.S. presently and lose the relationship that we’ve managed to nurture for the last 60 years,” says co-owner Claude Laplante.

With uncertainty surrounding their future, Laplante is looking to the Canadian government for clarity. He says he hopes the phrase “buy Canadian” applies to all products.

“We got to really look at what’s going on our own buildings in Canada,” says Laplante. “Whether it’s government or taxpayer, it should be Canadian-bought products. This is where the stamp of made in Canada, Canadian product should be really pushed,” he adds.

Laplante says 90 per cent of their imports are Canadian made.

Tariffs are set to go in effect at 12:01 am EST on Tuesday March 4.