Hamilton chamber of commerce asks Trudeau to address Chinese 'steel dumping'

Hamilton's chamber of commerce teamed with counterparts in Windsor-Essex and Sault Ste. Marie to ask Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to address "steel dumping" by China in his visit there.

A joint letter from the three chambers highlights labour protection and environmental standards that Canadian steel companies adhere to — which makes their steel cost more. 

"In parallel to these regulatory costs, Canada, through its existing trade agreements and mostly unfettered market access then requires them to compete against imports on a fair commercial basis," the letter states. "In a truly fair trade environment, our companies are willing and capable of competing globally and be successful."

The letter calls out oversupply.

"China is not a market economy and it is unfair to expect Canadian steel producers, entrepreneurs and companies to successfully compete in this environment," it states. 

"Canada has been hard hit by a flood of artificially undervalued imports, displacing domestic share and driving down the price to unsustainable levels."

Both U.S. Steel Canada in Hamilton and Essar Algoma in Sault Ste. Marie are under court-monitored creditor protection and are attempting to restructure their companies and avoid bankruptcy.