Canada is considering financial support for major aluminum producers such as Rio Tinto if US tariffs remain at 50%, the Aluminium Association of Canada's CEO, Jean Simard, said last Saturday (July 6).

Talks are underway as Canada faces a July 21 deadline to reach a trade deal with the US. The tariffs, imposed by US President Trump on June 4, are part of a broader move to support the US steel and aluminum industries.

While Canadian producers remain financially stable, prolonged tariffs could strain their cash flow. Industry Minister Mélanie Joly confirmed discussions with Rio Tinto are ongoing to support the sector. Canada recently dropped a digital service tax on US technology firms to ease trade talks, but aluminum tariffs remain a key issue.