U.S. steel tariffs hinder construction of arena projects

Hunter Wire is a small steel company in Winnipeg that plays a key role in building ice rinks in North America. Its president, David Koss, is watching closely how U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum are affecting his American clients. He notes that these tariffs are causing prices to rise for new rinks and renovations. The company specializes in making rink chairs, which are steel structures placed in the concrete of rinks. Hunter Wire is a dominant player in this niche market, controlling about 95% of it. Most of their steel comes from Canada, with some from Europe. However, 40% of their projects this year are in the U.S. The steel tariffs that were put in place by the Trump administration now apply to products like the rink chairs Hunter Wire manufactures. Koss mentioned that his U.S. customers, including specialized arena builders, are frustrated by the tariffs. He added that while Hunter Wire has not yet lost business due to tariffs, he anticipates a slowdown in the future. In an effort to support his U.S. customers, Koss has offered a 10% discount on affected products while the tariffs are in place. He believes it’s important to help his customers as their costs rise due to the tariffs. These tariffs have not only raised costs for Hunter Wire’s customers but have also disrupted their business operations. The company used to manage the import process for U.S. customers, but they can no longer do that due to the risk of having to pay the tariffs themselves. Koss is hoping for clarity from the U.S. government regarding the tariffs. He expressed that the ongoing uncertainty makes it hard for businesses to plan and operate effectively.