Canadian steelmaker Stelco will recall all 175 workers temporarily laid off at its Hamilton, Ontario, facility on December 1, as the company prepares to restart its finishing operations following agreements with customers.

The announcement, made on Friday, November 13, marks a positive development for affected employees and the Canadian steel industry, which has faced significant pressure from US President Donald Trump’s import tariffs, weaker demand and competition from imported steel products.

Stelco, owned by US-based steel producer Cleveland-Cliffs, said it had secured agreements with enough customers to resume operations. The restart is expected to take several weeks, while all 175 workers will receive back pay covering the standard wages they missed during the temporary layoff.

The layoffs, announced earlier this year, had intensified tensions between Cleveland-Cliffs and the Canadian government. Ottawa had raised concerns about the company’s employment commitments following its 2024 acquisition of Stelco, while the company cited difficult market conditions and trade pressures.

Canada’s steel sector has recently shown signs of recovery, supported by demand from mining, energy and artificial intelligence data-centre projects, alongside government assistance. However, the recovery remains uneven.

The planned reopening of Stelco’s Hamilton finishing lines and the return of its workforce represent an important boost for workers and the local steel industry as Canada continues navigating trade challenges and efforts to protect domestic manufacturing.

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