AISI Statement on Trump America First Trade Policy

January 21, 2025

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.” 

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Contact: Lisa Harrison

202.452.7115 / lharrison@steel.org

AISI serves as the voice of the American steel industry in the public policy arena and advances the case for steel in the marketplace as the preferred material of choice. AISI’s membership is comprised of integrated and electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmakers reflecting the production of both carbon and stainless steels which are critical to the everyday lives of all Americans — including national security, roads and bridges, the electrical grid, clean energy technologies and the automotive market. AISI also represents associate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry. For more news about steel and its applications, view AISI’s website at www.steel.org. Follow AISI on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter (@AISISteel) or Instagram.