Steel and Aluminum Tariffs Are Already Creating American Jobs
From the Alliance for American Manufacturing
Nearly 3,000 jobs have been announced in response to anticipated steel and aluminum tariffs as members of the Trump administration head into a series of Congressional trade hearings on Wednesday and Thursday. The hearings are expected to touch on the tariffs which are part of the March 8 presidential proclamation into the impacts of imports on national security.
"These tariffs lay the groundwork for a stronger economy and industrial base as long as importers don't unnecessarily weaken the remedy,” said Scott Paul, president of the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM). “President Trump has the world’s attention with these tariffs, and it is vital that his administration holds firm in its support of growing America's economy and securing our industrial base.
"The level playing field created by the tariffs is helping to support thousands of new direct jobs, allowing us to strengthen our national security, and spurring indirect job creation as well -- the Main Street restaurants and stores in steel towns, and the long value chain supported by the industry."
A new AAM resource outlines many of the new jobs, including how:
- U.S. Steel Corporation is restarting one of two blast furnaces in Granite City, Ill., recovering approximately 500 jobs. Both Granite City furnaces had previously been idled.
- Republic Steel is recalling over 1,000 jobs to restart its formerly idled Lorain, Ohio, facility to meet anticipated demand for steel following Trump’s 232 trade action.
- Nucor Corporation is building a new rebar micro mill in Frostproof, Fla., creating approximately 250 jobs with an annual average salary of $66,000. Previously in November 2017, Nucor announced plans to open another new rebar micro mill in Sedalia, Mo., creating 255 jobs and 450 temporary construction jobs.
- Century Aluminum Company is restarting the idled potlines of its smelter in Hawesville, Ky., restoring 300 jobs. Additionally, Century Aluminum is investing over $100 million to upgrade smelting technology at the site.
- Magnitude 7 Metals is opening a new aluminum plant, producing 400 jobs, in New Madrid County, Mo., at the site of a plant that closed in 2016, when local lawmakers began work to reopen the facility.
- Alcoa Corporation is restarting three of five potlines at a smelting facility that had closed in 2016. This restart of Warrick Operations in Evansville, Ind., will generate approximately 275 jobs.
Steel consumers are also speaking out in support of Trump's action. Zekelman Industries, the largest independent steel pipe and tube manufacturer in North America, plans to pay each of its employees a $1,000 bonus once the tariffs are instituted, and Pacific Boat Trailers won't raise prices despite using steel in its trailer construction.
To learn more about these jobs and read what companies are saying about the tariffs, visit AmericanManufacturing.org and Medium.
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