Business · Trade · 3 hrs ago
Steel import data challenge Stelco owner's claim of an import surge
Stelco, a steelmaker with operations in Southern Ontario, plans to lay off 500 workers and idle its galvanized steel operations.
Its U.S.-based owner, Cleveland-Cliffs, says Canada cannot absorb domestic production alongside an “avalanche of imports”.
But Statistics Canada data show imports of coated steel from outside the U.S. have fallen more than 30 per cent so far this year compared with 2025, and about 60 per cent over two years.
The Canadian government says Cleveland-Cliffs broke an employment agreement it signed when it bought Stelco in 2024.
Ottawa has introduced tariff-rate quotas to deter steel dumping and directed federally funded projects to prioritize Canadian steel.
Some Stelco customers are puzzled by the move, saying supply restrictions have helped push galvanized steel prices higher.
Cleveland-Cliffs did not respond to a request for comment, and no further action is specified.
Cleveland-Cliffs chief executive Lourenco Goncalves blamed an “avalanche of imports” in part for Stelco’s planned layoffs, but Canadian trade data show imports of coated steel from outside the United States have fallen.
Those imports are down more than 30 per cent year to date compared with 2025 and are at their lowest level since at least 2019.
The data analysis also shows imports are down about 60 per cent over two years.
The federal government accuses Cleveland-Cliffs of breaking an employment agreement signed when it bought Stelco in 2024.
Stelco announced it would lay off 500 workers in Southern Ontario.
- Who
- Stelco Holdings Inc., its U.S.-based owner Cleveland-Cliffs, and the federal government.
- What
- Stelco announced 500 layoffs; its owner blamed imports in part, while trade data show imports of coated steel from outside the United States have fallen.
- When
- The article was published on October 22, 2026. The layoff announcement date is not stated.
- Where
- Southern Ontario, Canada.
- Why
- Goncalves said Canada’s market could not absorb domestic galvanized steel production alongside imports. The federal government says Cleveland-Cliffs broke an employment agreement.
Cleveland-Cliffs
Federal government
Imports and layoffs
Cleveland-Cliffs
Chief executive Lourenco Goncalves blamed Canada’s failure to reduce imports, which he described as an “avalanche of imports,” in part for the company’s decision.
Federal government
Ottawa says Cleveland-Cliffs broke an employment agreement signed when it bought Stelco; the article reports that trade data do not support claims of an import surge.
Cleveland-Cliffs bought Stelco and signed an employment agreement, according to the federal government.
Goncalves blamed an “avalanche of imports” in part for Stelco’s situation during a call with investors.
Stelco announced it would lay off 500 workers in Southern Ontario.
Imports of coated steel from outside the United States were down more than 30 per cent from 2025, according to an analysis of Statistics Canada data.
- Planned layoffs
- 500 workers in Southern Ontario
- Owner
- Cleveland-Cliffs Inc.
- Steel imports
- Coated steel imports from outside the U.S. down more than 30 per cent year to date from 2025
- Two-year change
- Imports of coated steel from outside the U.S. down about 60 per cent
- Turkey imports
- Year-to-date imports down 84 per cent from 2024
- United Arab Emirates imports
- Year-to-date imports down 87 per cent from 2024
1 source
What people are saying
avalanche of imports