Sault-Windsor Mayors Alliance

By Sault Business Matters Staff
February 20, 2025
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To be sure, Canada and the United States have historically had a strong, mutually beneficial trade relationship. Border towns such as Sault Ste. Marie and Windsor are prime examples. And united they stand.

Locally, the imposition of steel tariffs threatens to disrupt this vital relationship, with consequences that extend far beyond Sault Ste. Marie. The Border Mayors Alliance, recognizing the severe economic risks, stands in solidarity with Sault Ste. Marie.

Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens, Chair of the Border Mayors Alliance, travelled to Sault Ste. Marie today to meet with Mayor Matthew Shoemaker and local businesses that would be directly affected by steel tariffs, including Algoma Steel and Tenaris Algoma Tubes.

Mayor Dilkens launched the Border Mayors Alliance in response to the threat posed by the United States’ proposed 25% tariff on all Canadian imports, most recently including steel and aluminum. The Alliance advocates for the protection of local economies and the interests of communities along the Canada-U.S. border.

“I thank Mayor Shoemaker for the invitation to meet with him and with industry leaders in Sault Ste. Marie – a city as strong as its steel,” Mayor Dilkens said. “Members of the Border Mayors Alliance stand side-by-side, in lockstep, to safeguard our communities from coast to coast and counteract the staggering pressures tariffs will place on our economy.

“Ontario is the economic engine of Canada, and Windsor and Sault Ste. Marie are crucial communities for the province and country. While our proximity may be distant, our shared values are aligned. Steel and automotive manufacturing are not just industries, but key to keeping Ontario and Canada moving forward. So, today, we stand united and send the message that we have one another’s backs,” Dilkens added.

Mayor Shoemaker emphasized the importance of collaboration in facing these economic challenges.

“In a trade war, there are no winners – only economic hardship for both Canada and the United States. The Border Mayors Alliance provides us with a critical platform to work together, advocate for our communities and share a clear message about what those economic harms will be. I was pleased to meet with Mayor Dilkens and introduce him to local employers who would face the most serious consequences as a result of tariffs,” he said.

The economic damage will not be confined to border cities such as Sault Ste. Marie and Windsor. Industries across North America that depend on Canadian steel and aluminum – such as automotive, aerospace, and construction – will face increased production costs, with higher prices ultimately passed on to consumers.