Newsprint tariffs will cost Canadians their jobs

VANCOUVER, Jan. 10, 2018 /CNW/ - A fresh round of unfair tariffs coming out of the U.S. Commerce Department?this time on Canadian-made newsprint?will only hurt workers in an industry already reeling from softwood duties.

"No forestry sector job is safe from Donald Trump's recklessness," said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. "The Trudeau government needs to take bold and confident action to protect Canadian workers." 

The Trump government levied more duties on Canadian forestry products this week, this time taking aim at newsprint. This latest tariff slap on an overall tax of 6.53 per cent on about 25 Canadian plants that will impact mostly the Ontario and Quebec region and follows the outrageous 20.83 per cent combined duty imposed by the U.S. on Canadian softwood lumber in 2017. 

"Forestry is as important to the Canadian economy as energy," said Renaud Gagné, Unifor Quebec Director. "Fighting unfair trade sanctions has to be a top priority. Tens of thousands of jobs are at stake that will impact local communities, action is needed now."

The federal government came to the aid of the softwood industry in May 2017 with a $867-million aid package, but Unifor says it is not a long-term solution for the more than 200,000 direct jobs in 650 communities across Canada.

Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, representing 315,000 workers in every major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad, and strives to create progressive change for a better future.

SOURCE Unifor