From The Editor

The dawn of a new presidential administration, even a repeat one like this, is an opportunity for all segments of the economy to make their pitch, and the steel industry is no exception.

The Steel Manufacturers Association, the group representing EAF steelmakers, has submitted a five-point plan for the Trump administration in advance of taking office.

SMA is calling for the new regime to:

• Strengthen tariffs to support domestic manufacturing.
• Stand up to unfair trade practices.
• Stop regulatory overreach.
• Advance pro-growth tax policy.
• Monetize America’s environmental advantage.

Looking over the list, the first four would seem to be preaching to the choir, based on the first four years of the Trump era. Only the fifth is an area the 47th president and his economic team might not be fully onboard with, though it’s obviously proposed to make the business case more than any green message on its own.

“Moving swiftly to strengthen manufacturing in the United States represents the best way to ensure long-term success for American workers, families and communities,” SMA President Philp K. Bell said. “We are under constant threat from nonmarket economies who evade our trade laws to dump cheap, heavily subsidized, high-emissions steel and other products into the American market, making it hard for domestic manufacturers to compete. Fortunately, President-elect Trump has vowed to use every tool he can to end unfair trade while stimulating growth in jobs and productivity.”