The North American aluminum wire and cable market is facing a critical threat from the dumping of below-cost imports, primarily from China and Vietnam and other offshore suppliers. This unfair trade practice jeopardizes committed domestic North American manufacturers such as Southwire, Nexans, Northern Cables, Electro Cables, Deca, Shawflex and Prysmian. All key brands committed to serving the Canadian market. But beyond manufacturing, the entire electrical ecosystem from distributors to contractors and specifying engineers will be exposed to risks arising from possible erosion of industry standards and inferior product quality. Furthermore, retail channels like Costco selling low-cost offshore wire add complexity to an already pressured market. And, in Canada specifically the government is now challenged to respond firmly by matching U.S. import tariffs to defend local industry and uphold safety and quality. Aluminum wire and cable is not a commodity. It involves specialized design, manufacturing, and certification processes that vary by application and performance requirements. Unlike commodity products that are largely interchangeable, aluminum wire and cable must meet strict North American standards such as CSA (Canadian Standards Association) and UL (Underwriters Laboratories) to ensure safety, reliability, and durability for residential, commercial, and industrial uses.
