SPRINGFIELD, IL – This week, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13),  Congressman Frank Mrvan (IN-01), and Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) led a letter to President Trump expressing willingness to work with him to invest in domestic manufacturing and American steelmaking. The members expressed support for tariffs on imported steel and aluminum to counter the influence of bad actors in the global market, incentivize the use of American-made materials and promote fair trade, but highlighted concerns with implementing tariffs on close trading partners like Canada.  

The members write, “Section 232 tariffs on imported steel and aluminum, like those you announced on February 10, can help counter the influence of bad actors in the global market, like China, India, and Mexico. The use of this important policy tool can also incentivize the use of American-made materials and promote fair trade. While your administration should be applauded for wanting to pursue policies to protect domestic steelmaking, it is confusing that the United States would target one of our closest trade partners, Canada, with whom we have balanced trade in manufactured goods and with whom trade boosts economic growth on both sides of our northern border. United States-Canada trade stands in sharp contrast to, say, United States trade with China.”

The letter is also signed by Congresswoman Val Hoyle (OR-04), Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04), Congressman Shri Thanedar (MI-13), and Congressman Ro Khanna (CA-17). 

The full text of the letter is HERE and below: 

The Honorable Donald J. Trump

President of the United States

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20500

President Trump,

As Members of Congress from steel-producing districts, we write today to express our support for the American steel industry and the workers who have established the United States as one of the world’s top steel-producing nations for generations. As you know, a strong domestic steel and aluminum manufacturing base will allow us to rebuild a manufacturing sector that uses these materials to make high value finished goods, support our military, and generate and deliver power to our great nation.

Section 232 tariffs on imported steel and aluminum, like those you announced on February 10, can help counter the influence of bad actors in the global market, like China, India, and Mexico. The use of this important policy tool can also incentivize the use of American-made materials and promote fair trade.

While your administration should be applauded for wanting to pursue policies to protect domestic steelmaking, it is confusing that the United States would target one of our closest trade partners, Canada, with whom we have balanced trade in manufactured goods and with whom trade boosts economic growth on both sides of our northern border. United States-Canada trade stands in sharp contrast to, say, United States trade with China. China has been proven to

undermine existing trade law and flood American markets with their illegally subsidized products, crippling our domestic manufacturing, killing American jobs, and devastating our Communities.

We hope that in the implementation of these tariffs, your administration considers these risks and dynamics, as a muscular and targeted approach will be most advantageous for domestic interests.

In addition to tariffs on imports, federal investments in the American steel and aluminum industry can also serve as a useful strategy to support industry. Under your administration, you have the opportunity to invest in steel facilities across the country and guide existing administrative supports to grow American production capacity, boost efficiencies, and create lasting American jobs making an essential product on which our national security relies. We also urge you to take full advantage of the many opportunities to incentivize the purchase of American steel by automakers, infrastructure contractors, and energy companies, ensuring that our country’s future is once again made in America. Your goal of 80 percent American steel and aluminum capacity utilization is right and patriotic. The right way to achieve it is through support for new and innovative American metals production, as well as new and innovative American energy and automotive production, rather than allowing more mills and smelters to idle and close.

As you have stated in the past, our nation is at an inflection point regarding industrial strategy and America’s prospects of again being a leading global manufacturing powerhouse. Your administration has an opportunity to put American workers and American industry back on top, and we stand ready to work with you on tariffs, investments, and any other measures that can make that opportunity a reality. We look forward to discussing these issues further with you andyour administration.

Sincerely,

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