In the ‘steel city of Canada,’ Trump’s tariff threats generate ‘fear and confusion’ [Video]

If the goal of U.S. President Donald Trump is to create “fear and confusion” with his tariff threats, he’s succeeding in the “steel city of Canada,” says Frank Crowder, a Hamilton union president. 

“It scares us, it scares families,” said Crowder, president of United Steel Workers Local 7135, after Trump threatened to impose 50 per cent tariffs Tuesday morning. “We have no way of being prepared. The American government is just creating chaos.” 

Trump had escalated his war of words in response to Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s imposition of a surcharge on electricity exports to several U.S. states. But by Tuesday afternoon, Ford called off his surcharge and White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said Trump would pull back on his doubling of tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum.

However, the U.S. government still planned to place a 25 per cent tariff on all steel and aluminum imports starting Wednesday, Navarro said. 

Roughly 90 per …