Promoting national security through steel tariffs?

Abstract

The U.S. Department of Commerce released its investigation into the impact on U.S. national security from imports of steel mill products. The report concluded that imports of steel poses a threat to U.S. national security due to the weakness of the domestic industry relative to global excess capacity. In response, President Trump adopted 25 percent tariffs on foreign produced steel. Under threats of retaliation many steel exporting nations are exempted, but China is not exempted.