Windsor metal shop owner bracing for possible Trump tariff on copper exports

A Windsor metal fabricator says he’s anxiously watching trade developments that could hit his bottom line. Travis Fortnum reports.

Just minutes from the U.S. border, a Windsor metal fabricator says he’s anxiously watching trade developments that could hit his bottom line.

Ryan Jordan, owner of RJ Steel Co., ships fabricated copper, steel and aluminum products across the border — with about 15 to 20 per cent of his revenue tied to U.S. clients.

“I spoke with one customer today who says, ‘What’s this mean about your price now? Is this price that you’ve provided us a month ago — does that still stand?’ And I said, I do not know. I do not know at this point,” said Jordan.

In 2018, when President Donald Trump first imposed tariffs on imported steel and aluminum, Jordan pivoted his operations — investing more in copper fabrication, which wasn’t targeted at the time.

“It was a good fit for us,” he said.

“It allowed us to put money towards something that wouldn’t affect us with the tariffs. And copper was not tariffed at the time.”

Now, it could be.

Trump, who is in office again, announced this week that he plans to impose a 50 per cent tariff on imported copper.

Wednesday evening he said that would be in place August 1.

“I’m as nervous as I was in 2018,” said Jordan.

Industry Minister Melanie Joly addressed the matter Wednesday morning, saying no formal order had yet been issued.

“When it comes to the latest declaration from the President in the United States, we have not yet seen an executive order,” she said.

Canada exported $9.3 billion worth of copper in 2023 — with 52 per cent of that going to the U.S.

Joly said the federal government’s priority is protecting Canadian jobs and businesses from what she called “unjustifiable and unjustified tariffs.”

“My job right now is to make sure that in the context of this trade war, I’m supporting the front lines of this trade war, which are the workers and the companies affected,” she said.

Jordan said the uncertainty alone could put local businesses like his at a disadvantage.

“In a competitive atmosphere or a competitive market, you’re going to find that every dollar counts,” he said.