“We support President Trump’s objectives under section 232 to remove the threat that steel import surges pose to our national security and restore the domestic steel industry to health.  We understand negotiations for section 232 agreements with our major trading partners are far from over and we urge the Administration to conclude implementation of effective, appropriate section 232 measures as soon as possible.”
     -- Steel Manufacturers Association 

"The U.S. producers of AISI fully support the administration’s position that any country that is granted an exemption from the tariffs must be subject to a quota, in order to safeguard against the exempt country becoming a conduit for trade diversion, transshipment and import surges. We look forward to additional details on how the exemption for Australia will further the objectives of Section 232. The president wants the industry to achieve 80% or more capacity utilization over the long-term. We wholeheartedly agree. We believe the NAFTA discussions should continue as they can be a basis for ensuring use of more NAFTA steel while achieving the objectives of the Section 232 remedies."
     -- Thomas J. Gibson, president and CEO, American Iron and Steel Institute

"The Aluminum Association was disappointed by (the) announcement that expands Section 232 aluminum tariffs to additional vital trading partner countries. The association, which represents the majority of aluminum production and jobs in the United States, believes that no country that operates as a market economy should be subject to unnecessary and disruptive tariffs or quotas. The administration’s trade remedies should specifically target structural aluminum overcapacity in China, which is caused by rampant, illegal government subsidies in that country. Tackling overcapacity is the best way for the aluminum industry to thrive in the U.S., addressing the national security concerns identified by the Commerce Department in its Section 232 investigation. Today’s action does little to address the China challenge while potentially alienating allies and disrupting supply chains that more than 97 percent of U.S. aluminum industry jobs rely upon."
     -- Heidi Brock, president and CEO, The Aluminum Association