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Federal study on steel imports good first step

We’re going to look forward to the results of a federal study into whether imported steel is placing U.S. national security in jeopardy. A lot of people, businesses and units of government no doubt will, too.

The review will be conducted by the U.S. Commerce Department under the direction of agency Secretary Wilbur Ross. Ross was directed by President Donald Trump to undertake the study. Trump suggested in a press event late last week that the results could be returned in as little as 30 to 50 days.

The move was met with positive commentary from industry labor and management alike.

Lourenco Goncalves, Cliffs Natural Resources chairman, president and CEO, has done little to conceal his ire relative to cheap steel imports flooding American shores since taking control of the company several years ago. He was equally eloquent when asked about how steel imports could impact U.S. national security.

“This is not an area where we can afford to become dependent on other countries,” Goncalves said.

President of the United Steelworkers Union Leo Gerard was also candid.

“Hopefully, this executive order (signed by Trump authorizing the study) will give us the tools we need to grow our companies back and put people back to work. And I have lots of faith that Secretary Wilbur Ross will help make that happen,” Gerard said.

We believe the importation of cheap foreign steel, produced by laborers who are paid next to nothing, has had a devastating impact on the U.S. economy and by extension, our national security. It’s not a new problem, dating back to at least the 1980s. Rhetoric aside, however, little or nothing has been done about it.

We hope this latest effort will provide the impetus for action at the federal level. Needless to say, business leaders and local and state government officials have been calling for it for years.

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