AISI Statement on Trump America First Trade Policy

Kevin Dempsey, president and CEO of the American Iron and Steel Institute, today released the following statement on the memorandum issued by President Trump regarding his America First Trade Policy: 

“We welcome President Trump’s commitment to treating trade policy as a critical component to national security and to pursuing a robust and reinvigorated trade policy agenda to tackle many of the issues that are priorities for the American steel industry. These include: addressing foreign unfair trade practices and currency manipulation, ensuring full enforcement of our existing trade agreements and leveling the playing field by strengthening our antidumping and countervailing duty laws, including addressing the growing problem of transnational subsidies. Urgent action is needed to respond to these challenges not only from China but also from many other countries around the world. 

We also appreciate the president’s instructions to his advisors to review and assess the effectiveness of the Section 232 steel tariff program that he established in 2018. We urge the new administration to take active steps to reinvigorate that program to ensure it is meeting the objectives originally established by President Trump during his first term. We look forward to working with President Trump and members of the new administration to ensure the continued competitiveness of the American steel industry and to strengthen American manufacturing as a whole.”