NAFEM joins with more business leaders to advocate for removal of tariffs

Acting out of concern for trade in general and specifically for downstream users of imported steel and aluminum, as well as U.S. consumers, the National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) formed the Alliance for Competitive Steel and Aluminum Trade in 2018. NAFEM joined the alliance in January.

“Our alliance represents some of the most competitive industries in the U.S. economy, and we are deeply concerned about the effects that these tariffs will have on industries and companies that use steel and aluminum,” said Rufus Yerxa, NFTC president.

The Alliance membership includes more than 30 associations representing a vast cross-section of American manufacturers and farmers. Members have prioritized meeting regularly with Congress and the administration to express concern about the downstream effects of the tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, as well as foreign retaliation.

“We are also concerned about the retaliation against America’s most competitive exporters. This ‘double whammy’ of higher prices to our domestic producers and retaliation against our exporters will endanger tens of thousands of quality American jobs,” said Rufus.

Members of the Alliance are advocating for the administration to take all necessary steps to eliminate unwarranted restrictions on steel and aluminum imports, especially those that are unnecessary in a free trade arrangement such as the U.S.– Mexico – Canada Agreement (USMCA). The Alliance calls for the removal of tariffs on our USMCA trading partners, while also ensuring that Canada and Mexico revoke their retaliatory actions.

In a policy paper, the Alliance outlined members’ concerns regarding the proposed tariffs, including the following damage to:

• Downstream users and American consumers;
• S. exports; and,
• S. economic growth.