Findings in a national security investigation into steel imports are expected any day now.
White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters on Monday that the Commerce Department “should” release the findings of its national security investigation into steel imports “later this week.”
But barring an unexpected Friday afternoon news dump, it looks like we’re going to have to wait a little longer to see what recommendations the department will have for President Trump in the Section 232 investigation.
In the meantime, Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM) supporters are making their voices heard. Nearly 4,000 people already have written to President Trump and their Members of Congress to urge them to “utilize all available tools — including the Section 232 remedy — to protect America’s economic and national security.”
And on Friday, AAM ran a full-page ad in the Washington Post thanking the president for his promise to stand with American steelworkers — and urging him to deliver a comprehensive Section 232 action.
As U.S. Army Brigadier Gen. John Adams (Ret.) outlined to AAM supporters earlier this week, dumped steel and aluminum imports from countries like Russia and China are putting America at risk.
We need both steel and aluminum for both our national defense needs and our critical infrastructure. But dumped imports from China and Russia have led to dozens of plant closures and tens of thousands of layoffs. Entire industries are threatened.
If America loses its ability to make steel or aluminum, we’ll have to rely on China and Russia for the materials needed to build everything from fighter jets and battleships to energy transformers and bridges.
LEARN MORE: Steel Is Our Strength
Trump has promised to stand with steel and aluminum workers. With the steel import investigation wrapping up (and findings in the Section 232 aluminum case also expected soon) now is the time to make good on his word.
As AAM’s own Scott Paul noted, the voters who put Trump in office are watching very closely to see if the president makes good on his word to take on unfair trade. This is an opportunity he shouldn’t pass up.