Steel import restrictions spark fear of shortages in Western Canada

Construction workers assemble steel rebar for bridge columns in Alberta. By restricting steel imports, Ottawa risks damaging the economy in parts of Canada that have historically relied on foreign steel for use in everything from new residential towers to bridges and other infrastructure projects. Photo by Gavin Young/Postmedia

Tim McMenamin spent last week holding his breath: a vessel from the Philippines, carrying thousands of tonnes of steel rebar, was scheduled to land in the Port of Vancouver, and he didn’t know if he was going to owe millions of dollars in duties when it did.

Since the U.S. trade war began, the federal government has repeatedly introduced new restrictions on steel imports — adding new risks for importers such as McMenamin, who is president of Jebsen & Jessen Hamb