Report From The Alliance For American Manufacturing (AAM)

Report from the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM)

President Trump and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross launched a rarely used Section 232 investigation in April to determine if the effects of steel and aluminum imports pose a threat to these American industries and the to the national security of the United States. Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to conduct these comprehensive investigations.

Public hearings were held at the Commerce Department in May and June and the administration set a self-imposed deadline of June 30 to release the findings and potential retaliatory actions by the United States against China and other foreign nations who are dumping their excess products into the U.S., weakening industries that protect America’s national security.

Despite Ross’ promise to act quickly on these top-priority matters, it is now October and the Trump administration has failed to address this problem. American steel and aluminum workers continue to lose their jobs and the U.S. is at further risk during a possible military confrontation, if we no longer have the capabilities to ramp up our armaments without depending on foreign-made steel and aluminum.

A group of more than 60 United Steelworkers from around the country descended upon Washington, D.C. during the week of September 18 to visit Senators and their staffs to continually stress the importance of an immediate solution. Just two days after Ross met via phone with steelworkers, he stated the delayed Section 232 will not be released until Congress deals with tax reform. 

And Trump had earlier said Section 232 would not be made public until after tax reform and infrastructure.

Our USW brothers and sisters can’t afford to wait.

During his presidential campaign, Trump came to the Mon Valley of Southwestern Pennsylvania, once the steelmaking capital of the world, and proclaimed “it will be American steel that sends our skyscrapers soaring, soaring into the sky, beautiful sight, more beautiful with American steel. We are going to put American steel and aluminum back into the backbone of the country,”

It is now nine months into his presidency and Trump appears spineless in matters of the steel industry.

Please contact your representatives in Congress and let them know America’s national security and the jobs it provides comes first and foremost. Taxes and infrastructure will take years to resolve, during which time America may become unable to defend itself.

Contact your U.S. Representatives at their district offices or call the Capitol switchboard in Washington, D.C. (202) 224-3121 where your call will be directed to their Capitol office staff.

Jeff Bonior is a staff writer for the Alliance for American Manufacturing