Ottawa must steel itself against tariffs

The first step is always the hardest, as the saying goes. After that, one has momentum. But on the question of steel imports, that forward impetus is precisely what Ottawa should be careful about. On June 19, the federal government said it will freeze at 2024 levels imports of steel from countries with which it doesn't have free-trade pacts. If those jurisdictions, which include China, India and Turkey, exceed the quota, Ottawa says shipments will be subject to a 50-per-cent tariff . It was the first major step the government of Prime Minister Mark Carney has taken to aid Canadian…