Canada launches $100 million steel shipping rebate program

The Canadian government has launched a $100 million Commodities Sectoral Support Program to assist the domestic steel industry. Announced by Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon, the initiative provides a 50 per cent rebate on eligible rail and marine transportation costs for Canadian steel products moving between provinces and territories.

The program aims to strengthen interprovincial trade and reinforce domestic supply chains in response to high tariffs, which have reached up to 50 per cent, imposed by the Trump Administration on Canadian steel imports. The rebate is expected to last for up to one year or until the funds are exhausted.

Industry leaders, including ArcelorMittal Dofasco CEO Ron Bedard, have noted the program will provide lower-cost access to Canadian-produced steel across the country. This move comes amid ongoing trade tensions and negotiations regarding the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and potential tariffs on various Canadian goods.