US Steel Says It Will Reopen Illinois Plant

[Trumpster]

Good for people who work in the steel industry, bad for everyone else.

This happens all the time:

Tobacco products are good for the tobacco industry, bad for everyone who ends up addicted and sickened.

Fast food is good for the fast food industry, bad for everyone who ends up addicted and sickened.

People get sick from the above products, good for the healthcare industry, bad for those who are sick.

At least steel and aluminum products are generally not bad for one's health.

[Chris]

[MMC]

Here is another leftist argument. even though the leftist isn't up on the fact that the GOP is against Trump going with a Full Blanket Tariff.



A tariff on a selected sector is nothing else than picking winners and losers. In this case, the winners are the small number of workers in the steel sector, plus the steel executives. The losers are everyone else, who'll have to pay higher prices. You could have just as well given steel workers a government handout.

Of course, Trump could levy universal import tariffs. What about tariffs on cell phones? Would you like to pay +20% on your iPhone?

So, why do steel workers deserve special protection by the government? Why not minimum wage workers? They could use a living wage? Why not raise the minimum wage. Oh, it raises prices, is the GOP narrative against it. So, how can you be for tariffs, but against the minimum wage? The effect is the same......snip~

[MMC]

The US ranks lowest among developed countries regarding exports VS GDP. Only 12% of US GDP is derivative from US exports.

[Chris]

Here is another leftist argument. even though the leftist isn't up on the fact that the GOP is against Trump going with a Full Blanket Tariff.



A tariff on a selected sector is nothing else than picking winners and losers. In this case, the winners are the small number of workers in the steel sector, plus the steel executives. The losers are everyone else, who'll have to pay higher prices. You could have just as well given steel workers a government handout.

Of course, Trump could levy universal import tariffs. What about tariffs on cell phones? Would you like to pay +20% on your iPhone?

So, why do steel workers deserve special protection by the government? Why not minimum wage workers? They could use a living wage? Why not raise the minimum wage. Oh, it raises prices, is the GOP narrative against it. So, how can you be for tariffs, but against the minimum wage? The effect is the same......snip~

Well, it's odd that the left turns against Progressive protectionism as the right turns to it.

[MMC]

Well, it's odd that the left turns against Progressive protectionism as the right turns to it.

Huh?


Trump's Unlikely Allies on Trade -- Democrats

Fast-forward to earlier this month, when Trump hastily announced he would be placing tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, a proposal deemed sacrilegious by traditional Republican orthodoxy and sure to win him few allies. One of them was Brown, who welcomed action he said could stop China from dumping steel into the U.S. market, calling it “well overdue.”

Such an alliance has incensed Republicans, even those closest to Trump, who are concerned the tariff push will undermine the benefits they hope to reap from a good economy and new tax cuts while boosting rivals they need to defeat in November. Other manufacturing-state Democrats like Bob Casey of Pennsylvania and Joe Manchin of West Virginia, applauded Trump’s move. And Democrat Conor Lamb, who is proving to be competitive in next week’s special election in a Trump district outside of Pittsburgh, also backed the proposal -- even using it to outflank his opponent, Rick Saccone, who also supports tariffs.


Ahead of Thursday’s rollout, over 100 House Republicans signed a letter written by Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady, urging the president to reconsider his decision in order to “avoid unintended negative consequences to the U.S. economy and its workers.”

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said this week that Republicans fear the proposal "could metastasize into a larger trade war.” And Ohio Rep. Steve Stivers, who chairs the National Republican Congressional Committee, also raised concerns, signaling how members of the GOP are worried about electoral consequences.

The plan is finding unlikely allies on the House side, too. Rep. Tim Ryan, a Democrat from Youngstown who has been critical of his party’s leadership, especially on economic issues, backs tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, with the caveat that they be tailored toward China and exempt North American and European allies.

Unions have also been supportive. “This is a great first step toward addressing trade cheating, and we will continue to work with the administration on rewriting trade rules to benefit working people,” said AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka.

Red state Democrats up for re-election this year are waiting to see what the actual policy looks like, but have previously echoed sentiments expressed by their party colleagues. “As senators from leading steel and iron ore producing states, we have seen firsthand how this steel dumping has displaced American steelworkers,” wrote Michigan Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters last spring ahead of Trump’s visit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. “We respectfully urge you to make it clear to President Xi that Chinese steel dumping and illegal trade practices are unacceptable.” .....snip~

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/a...kely_allies_on_trade_--_democrats_136468.html

[Trumpster]

Dumping, by countries like China, is predatory pricing with the goal of destroying competition and creating a monopoly. What would Ron Paul do about this if he were President?

[gamewell45]

I'll pay more for things marked Made in the USA and or produced in my town because of the benefits to US workers.

Look at the first two or three numbers on a bar-code sticker and buy or DON'T buy by nation of production.

690-695 Made in China
00-09 USA & Canada
30-37 France
40-44 Germany
47 Taiwan
49 Japan
50 UK

I'm with you on this. Let's keep Americans employed. Buy American when possible.