Stephen Capone: "Canada has taken about 90% of our market away"

Stephen Capone, from Capone Iron Corporation, says he is looking forward to the tariffs. “I hope to see them, and I think the president has done a great job on this. As I told you before, I hope this stops them. I hope it puts an end to free trade, which is actually unfair trade, and levels the playing field between New England steel manufacturers and Canadian steel producers.”

Trump promises that this will generate revenue from foreign tariffs, which will go toward tax cuts in the U.S. and deficit reduction, as well as bringing manufacturing back to the United States.

This is obviously very important for those in the steel industry, particularly in New England, where Canada dominates the market. Our competition north of the border has taken over about 90% of our market. They control the market in both the public and private sectors, leaving little room for local manufacturers like Capone.

In fact, we’re doing jobs like this for other manufacturers, even smaller projects in markets that aren’t traditionally ours.

According to New England steel manufacturers and the American Institute of Steel Construction, Canada was responsible for 25% of all structural steel imports in 2024, resulting in the skylines of cities like New York, Boston, and Philadelphia being filled with cranes lifting Canadian steel.

And here in Massachusetts, over 90% of the structural steel used in public schools comes from Canada.