Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland says the government is looking at offering support to steel and aluminum workers impacted by U.S. tariffs.

On Thursday, President Donald Trump announced tariffs of 25 per cent on steel and 10 per cent on aluminum that would apply to Canada, Mexico and the EU.

To minimize the harm done to those sectors, Freeland said she wanted to assure workers that the government will come to their aid — though she didn't say how or when.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Friday he's already reached out to Canadian steel and aluminum producers to talk about upcoming short-term challenges.

When asked if the help would resemble the $867 million in loans offered during the U.S.-Canada standoff over softwood lumber, Freeland wouldn't say.

Chrystia Freeland told CBC Radio's The House the government will support Canadian metal workers from the fallout of U.S. tariffs. 1:37

She called the two situations "very different, but the principle is the same."

Since the tariffs are different, she said the impacts and subsequent government response will be unique to the steel and aluminum workers.

In August the government threatened legal action against the U.S. if negotiations on softwood lumber continued to be stalled. The Conference Board of Canada estimated at the floated duties on softwood lumber duties would cost Canadian producers $1.7 billion a year and result in the reduction of 2,200 jobs.

But now the focus has shifted to metal.

"The end game is for the United States to remove its illegal and completely unjustified tariffs," Freeland told The House.

Washington says it will hit Canada with tariffs on steel and aluminum. In response, Ottawa is retaliating with a long list of surtaxes on U.S. imports. 6:00

Canada is countering the United States' move by imposing dollar-for-dollar tariffs of its own on everything from steel products to maple syrup, scheduled to take effect July 1.

The duties represent $16.6 billion on some steel and aluminum products and other goods from the U.S. — including beer kegs, whisky, toilet paper and "hair lacquers."

But Freeland made it clear the goal is to get the tariffs repealed.

"I believe common sense will prevail," she said.

"People don't do things that hurt themselves for that long."