Mayor Matthew Shoemaker has done a lot of cross-border lobbying over the past few months, determined to convince U.S. lawmakers that Donald Trump's tariffs are benefiting nobody.
Algoma Steel has been hit especially hard by the U.S. president's trade war, with tariff costs totalling $10.5 million in the first quarter alone.
During a recent interview in our SooToday studio, Shoemaker repeated his contention that Trump's tariffs are an "act of aggression that is unwarranted, unjustified and needs to be resolved" — and that fighting for the steel plant is the community's "top priority."
"We can talk about all the roads we want to build, or buildings we want to take down, or downtown events we want to do," the mayor said. "Without the steel plant being healthy and stable, nothing else is going to be the top priority."
VIDEO: Algoma Steel boss talks to us about Trump, pollution and looming job cuts
Shoemaker recently met with Michigan Congressman Jack Bergman, whose district includes our Sault neighbours across the river. He also spoke to Prime Minister Mark Carney when he was in town during the election campaign, hammering home the serious threat facing the city's largest employer.
"The last time tariffs were in place for 11 months, it was hundreds of millions of dollars out of the steel plant’s bottom line," Shoemaker said. "I expect it to be along the same lines this year, so getting them removed or helping the industries and workers with financial supports through federal and provincial governments, is priority number one."
Asked if he is concerned the plant could close, Shoemaker pointed to Algoma Steel's years-long transition to electric arc furnace (EAF) production.
“I'm gathering my information from what I'm hearing from people that work there, meetings I've had with them," the mayor said.
"I know they're committed to getting through the EAF transition. What I think provides me some level of comfort is the feds have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in upgrading them to the EAF as kind of the crown jewel in our efforts to decarbonize steelmaking. So if we're going to hold that up as a crown jewel in that effort, it has to get there. And so it gives me some sense of comfort that it can't be let to fail."
You can watch Shoemaker's full interview HERE.
