The US and Canadian steel industries are “aligned” in trade policies, and the imposition of Section 232 tariffs against Canada is “unjustified,” Canadian Steel Producers Association (CSPA) vice president for trade and industry affairs Francois Desmarais told Fastmarkets in an exclusive interview on Friday February 6.

When President Trump took office for a second time just over a year ago, he immediately sought to tear up the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), a key piece of Joe Biden’s legacy. But plans announced earlier this week, ending on Friday February 6, have reshaped the future for cobalt and critical minerals.

The US laid out its strongest push yet to reshape global critical minerals supply chains at the inaugural Critical Mineral Ministerial in Washington on Wednesday February 4, where senior officials detailed plans for an allied trade bloc built on reference prices and enforceable price floors – a potential turning point for small, strategically important markets such as tungsten.

In 2026, the North American wood products industry enters a year of cautious stabilization.

Fastmarkets launches MB-STE-0951 Steel hot-rolled coil index, fob mill Canada on Thursday February 5.

International Paper (IP) will increase its North American containerboard prices by $70 per ton, effective March 1. This follows a similar announcement from Packaging Corp of America (PCA) on January 23.

Packaging Corp of America (PCA) is set to raise linerboard and corrugating medium prices by $70 per ton starting March 1, marking the first containerboard price increase in 13 months.

Fastmarkets launched AG-HMP-0017 Hempseed grain, fob Southern Manitoba, CA$/lb on October 2, 2025.

Fastmarkets launches assessments for western S-P-F #2&btr 2x4-2x12 delivered Vancouver and delivered Calgary, western S-P-F MSR 1650f and 2100f 2x4 and 2x6 delivered Vancouver, eastern S-P-F #1&2 2x4 and 2x6 8’-16’ specified lengths delivered Montreal, eastern S-P-F MSR 1650f and 2100f 2x4 delivered Toronto, and 1650f 2x6 delivered Toronto on Thursday December 18, 2025.

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