I’m not even remotely surprised that one of the main culprits leading to a slowdown in the North American steel industry is cheap exports from China.

Obviously the economic downturn has played a major role in a decision this week to idle Hamilton Steel, formerly Stelco, for an undetermined amount of time.

However, I find it odd that few people, especially Local 1005, the union representing the affected workers, is pointing the finger of responsibility squarely where it belongs -China.

As I’ve stated in previous columns, the proliferation of cheap products from China is the main reason Canada’s traditional manufacturing sector is dying.

More than 270,000 manufacturing jobs have been lost in Ontario since July 2004. It’s a troubling trend, even more so considering these losses were mounting when the economy was at the peak.

Manufacturing jobs in Ontario have been declining at a steady pace for more than a decade, as multi-national companies seek cheaper labour markets in an effort to compete in the global marketplace. Steel is not immune.

It’s hard to buy anything these days that isn’t made in China. You really have to look hard to find products made domestically, or even in North America.

Cheap workers, substandard labour laws and lax environmental policies give foreign countries like China a competitive advantage in the production of goods.

In Canada, our society demands that manufacturers meet strict environmental standards when it comes to pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. While I agree we must act to protect future generations from the effects of global warming, we must also consider that this green ideology comes at a price.

Even before the news that U. S. Steel was shutting down its facilities in Hamilton and Nanticoke, members representing the Canadian steel industry were lobbying our federal government to exempt it from pending environmental legislation and to apply tariffs on cheap steel imported from China.

Realizing the threat China poses to our traditional manufacturing sector, I have to wonder if those employed in the steel industry actually take the effort to buy Canadian products.

How many drive foreign built cars, made with foreign produced steel, while asking the rest of us to help bail out their struggling industry?

China is a communist country, governed by leftist ideology. Some union members feel a camaraderie with socialist governments. It seems a bit strange, considering China has been a major factor in the decline of domestic manufacturing, leading to job losses for unionized employees.

Not to mention China’s atrocious human rights record.

I sympathize with each and every person affected by this week’s devastating announcement to shut down, even if temporarily, a Hamilton institution.

If people made more of an effort to support Canadian-made products rather than look for the lowest price, I believe our economy would only benefit, and future manufacturing jobs would be preserved.