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

Report From The Alliance For American Manufacturing (AAM)

Report from the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM)

President Trump hosted a Made in America event week at the White House from July 17 through July 21. 

Products, entirely Made in America, were showcased from all 50 states.

But at the Alliance for American Manufacturing every week is Made in America week.

Trump is certainly not the leader of Made in America products. Many of the products he sources for his business ventures, as well as his daughter Ivanka’s line of clothing, are made overseas. The President’s clothing line, hotel furnishings and even steel for his massive buildings are often produced in China, Mexico and Bangladesh.

It’s a case of do as I say, not as I do.

It’s pure hypocrisy that the President of the United States promotes products Made in America, while at the same time he is purchasing manufactured products from countries that contribute immensely to our trade deficit.

No matter what your opinion is of President Trump, it is important to get behind Made in America. If every American committed to buying $64 worth of American-made goods each year 200,000 new jobs would be created.

American-made products are much better for the environment and are critical to our National Security. There is just one aluminum smelter remaining in the United States that can produce the purest quality aluminum for our fighter jets and navy fleet. American-made steel is losing the capacity to rebuild our Navy fleet of battleships and Army tanks.

Made in America matters. It’s also perhaps one of the few issues that Americans tend to agree on, with 95 percent of voters polled in 2014 having a favorable view of American-made products.

We’ve lost so much ground in American manufacturing over the past 30 years, it is not always possible to Buy American. But with a concerted effort, Americans can research and purchase what is Made in America. It will bring back thousands of manufacturing jobs and protect our National Security.

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