Five Reasons to Continue the Section 232 Tariffs

By: AISI Staff

America’s steel industry remains a backbone of our national security, critical infrastructure and economic strength. Section 232 tariffs help ensure that domestic steel producers can continue to meet America’s needs — not only now, but in years to come. Here are five reasons to continue the Section 232 tariffs on steel:

Preserve National Security
A healthy domestic steel industry is vital to our national defense. Section 232 recognizes that steel is essential for military equipment, critical infrastructure and emergency response needs. Keeping these tariffs in place helps ensure that America is not reliant on foreign imports in times of national security threats and crises.

Strengthen American Jobs and Manufacturing
The American steel industry supports good paying, family-sustaining jobs across the country. By leveling the playing field for steel, as the steel tariffs help to do, hardworking American steelworkers can have the opportunity to contribute to and sustain local communities and keep manufacturing in the United States.

Address Global Steel Overcapacity
Led by China, global steel overcapacity continues to rise due to unfair trade practices. As a result, Chinese steel exports to the world have more than doubled since 2020, surging to 118 million metric tons in 2024 — more than total North American steel production. Given these challenging international conditions that show no signs of improvement, steel tariffs will help prevent new surges in imports that would injure American steel producers and their workers.

Ensure Long Term Investments
America’s domestic steel producers are investing billions of dollars in new and modernized facilities. These continued investments are only possible in a stable and competitive market.

Support Sustainability
The American steel industry is the cleanest and most energy-efficient of the leading steel industries in the world, producing steel with lower CO2 emissions intensity than the other major steel-producing countries. Maintaining a strong domestic steel industry—supported by Section 232 steel tariffs—helps ensure that the American steel industry can continue to innovate and develop modern steel facilities that enable clean energy technologies and support America’s sustainable future.