Trump’s 50% Tariffs Shutter Century-Old Canadian Mill, Town Fights for Survival

A century-old paper mill in Témiscaming, Quebec, has been indefinitely closed after the United States imposed 50% tariffs on its products, throwing hundreds of residents out of work and threatening the survival of the small Canadian town. The closure, announced this week, marks one of the most severe economic casualties of the escalating trade tensions between Washington and Ottawa.

The mill, which has been the economic backbone of Témiscaming for over 100 years, employed a significant portion of the town’s workforce. The 50% tariff, imposed by the Trump administration on Canadian paper products, made the mill’s exports to the US unviable, according to company officials. Local residents have launched a campaign to save the mill, calling on both federal and provincial governments to intervene. “This isn’t just about jobs; it’s about the future of our community,” said a local spokesperson. The mill’s closure affects not only direct employees but also ancillary businesses and services that relied on the mill’s operations.

The closure highlights the vulnerability of single-industry towns to international trade disputes. It also puts pressure on the Canadian government to negotiate exemptions or provide support to affected communities. As residents organize protests and lobby politicians, the situation in Témiscaming serves as a stark warning of the human cost of the tariff war. The Canadian federal government has yet to announce specific measures, but officials have expressed concern over the impact on workers and pledged to explore all options. The town’s fight to save the mill is likely to become a symbol of resistance against the broader economic fallout from the US tariffs.