Tariffs
on steel from China must be maintained by the Biden administration to help
protect and support the nation’s steelmaking industry and union workers,
according to U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber (R-MN).
In a June 30 letter sent to President Joe
Biden, Rep. Stauber wrote he is “extremely concerned” about recent reports that
Biden and his administration are considering further repealing tariffs on
China, including tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, as well as on
steel-intensive imported products.
“Simply put, your decision to end these
tariffs would have a devastating, direct and immediate impact on these very
families and workers in northern Minnesota and throughout steel country,” the
congressman wrote.
The tariffs, originally implemented by the
Trump administration in May 2018, benefit American union workers, such as those
in Rep. Stauber’s district in northern Minnesota who work at a taconite mine in
the Mesabi Iron Range, a major taconite mining district in northeastern Minnesota.
Processed taconite pellets as used in the steelmaking industry.
“I urge you to end your deference towards
Communist China, and instead, put the American worker first,” wrote Rep.
Stauber. “At a time when inflation is at a 40-year high and families are
fighting for their survival, I urge you to not turn your back on them by
relaxing tariffs on Communist China and putting these hard-working labor union
Americans in the unemployment line.”
Rep. Stauber noted that his constituents, like
many Americans, are being impacted by rising inflation.
“Please do not exacerbate this dire economic
situation and inflict added harm across the Iron Range by repealing steel and
aluminum tariffs,” he wrote. “My constituents are hurting enough as it is.”