OPINION:
As President Trump returns from his first G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany, we are reminded that some countries do not want to see America grow stronger and be a beacon for freedom around the globe. During his historic inauguration speech while speaking about the decline of American industry, Mr. Trump made clear that “this American carnage stops right here and stops right now.” It’s clear that the carnage that has taken place in U.S. industries such as steel and aluminum needs to come to an end. As Mr. Trump has said repeatedly, we need to “buy American and hire American.”
For decades, vital American industries such as steel and aluminum, that are the backbone of many small rural communities, have been decimated due to communist China and other bad actors not playing by the rules. The warning signs were there, but the lack of political will to create free and fair markets for American products was not. Because of this, an economic issue has escalated into a national security one. Now, American steel workers and their families across the U.S. are eagerly awaiting the prospects of job-saving relief known as a “Section 232” from the Trump administration.
Since 2000, the U.S. steel industry has lost 48,000 jobs. In 2015 alone, 4,000 jobs were lost. The decimation of the industry has been largely driven by foreign government subsidization of steel, which has deflated prices globally to the point where American producers can’t compete. This is an economic war, where subsidized companies thrive while the backbone of our manufacturing and defense capabilities are eliminated.
Don’t be fooled by those that use the word “protectionism” as an insult. The current business climate for steel is rigged to such a level that U.S. producers can’t compete. As Mr. Trump’s campaign manager, I saw first-hand the carnage in communities that faced rampant job losses in steel producing states such as Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Indiana and Alabama. Mr. Trump made a commitment to American steel workers and I hope that he will do everything within his power to help these hard-working Americans and their families.
American national security is at stake. The U.S. military depends on steel and aluminum to keep our country safe and protect our troops, who are fighting the increasing threats posed by terrorism. High-purity aluminum, a particular grade of primary aluminum, is used to make jets, such as Boeing’s F-18 and Lockheed Martin’s F-35, as well as armored vehicles. Enforcement of Section 232 will also allow the U.S. to continue to produce the steel used in transformers crucial to electrical transmission. Only one domestic steel mill remains capable of producing that steel.
Ironically, the same countries that are using fear mongering and screaming threats of a global trade war are the same ones that have accused China of dumping steel in their own countries. The G-7, which includes the United States, Canada, Japan, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Italy, have called for a solution to global overcapacity in steel.
In fact, the European Union has previously accused China of steel dumping while imposing their own duties. The EU also protects its aluminum market with duties. Now is the time for these countries to work with Mr. Trump to confront China’s overcapacity. Waiting on global negotiations at the G-20 to address global steel overcapacity while a vital U.S. industry withers is not a solution.
Mr. Trump and the U.S. Department of Commerce are slated to announce what action, if any, they will take to save the U.S. steel and aluminum industries and those decisions will impact the livelihood of thousands. If nothing changes, thousands of hard working U.S. workers and their families will continue to feel the pain.
Only by protecting vital American industries, and taking bold steps to bring entire supply chains back to the U.S. market, will we truly “Make America Great Again.” Now is the time for Mr. Trump to stop this great American carnage and put American steel workers first.
• Corey Lewandowski served as a former campaign manager to Donald Trump, the 45th president of the United States.
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