The United States is working on a plan that lifts steel and aluminum tariffs off Mexican and Canadian products while preserving the gains of those tariffs overall, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said on Tuesday. U.S. President Donald Trump imposed tariffs — 25 per cent on steel and 10 per cent on aluminum — back in 2018 on national security grounds. Tariffs on both sides of the border have disrupted supply chains and added extra costs for consumers and businesses across a wide range of industries. This week, the federal government announced $100 million in funding for small and medium-sized enterprise steel and aluminum manufacturers in Canada. The Canadian government says "escalating commodity prices" and "increasing financial and competitive pressures" have significantly affected small and medium-sized producers operating within Canadian steel and aluminum supply chains.

Source: CBC News March 12, 2019 18:45 UTC