Tariffs credited for expected return of nearly 3,000 steel industry jobs
by March 24, 2018 10:44 am 412 views
The Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM) announced nearly 3,000 steel industry jobs are coming thanks to anticipated steel and aluminum tariffs as members of President Donald Trump’s administration head into a series of Congressional trade hearings on Wednesday and Thursday (March 21 and 22).
“These tariffs lay the groundwork for a stronger economy and industrial base as long as importers don’t unnecessarily weaken the remedy,” said AAM President Scott Paul. “President Trump has the world’s attention with these tariffs, and it is vital that his administration holds firm in its support of growing America’s economy and securing our industrial base.”
Paul has been a frequent critic of Trump’s, claiming the President dragged his feet on Section 232 investigations that led to the tariff proposals, but on Wednesday, he said the tariffs created a “level playing field” that “is helping to support thousands of new direct jobs, allowing us to strengthen our national security, and spurring indirect job creation as well — the Main Street restaurants and stores in steel towns, and the long value chain supported by the industry.”
A new AAM resource outlines many of the new jobs, including the following.
• U.S. Steel Corporation is restarting one of two blast furnaces in Granite City, Ill., recovering approximately 500 jobs. Both Granite City furnaces had previously been idled.
• Republic Steel is recalling over 1,000 jobs to restart its formerly idled Lorain, Ohio, facility to meet anticipated demand for steel following Trump’s 232 trade action.
• Nucor Corporation is building a new rebar micro mill in Frostproof, Fla., creating approximately 250 jobs with an annual average salary of $66,000. Previously in November 2017, Nucor announced plans to open another new rebar micro mill in Sedalia, Mo., creating 255 jobs and 450 temporary construction jobs.
• Century Aluminum Company is restarting the idled potlines of its smelter in Hawesville, Ky., restoring 300 jobs. Additionally, Century Aluminum is investing over $100 million to upgrade smelting technology at the site.
• Magnitude 7 Metals is opening a new aluminum plant, producing 400 jobs, in New Madrid County, Mo., at the site of a plant that closed in 2016, when local lawmakers began work to reopen the facility.
• Alcoa Corporation is restarting three of five potlines at a smelting facility that had closed in 2016. This restart of Warrick Operations in Evansville, Ind., will generate approximately 275 jobs.