Kevin Cosgriff, president and CEO of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) said the new import tariffs on steel and aluminum announced today will create unwelcome challenges for many electrical manufacturers, particularly related to certain types of electrical steel not made in the U.S. and the overly broad restrictions on imported aluminum.
“Our industry uses steel and aluminum from domestic and overseas sources in their manufacturing processes. The President’s decision to impose import taxes on fairly-traded steel and aluminum will not help our manufacturers’ costs or aid them in being more competitive in the global economy,” said Cosgriff. “We believe the opposite to be the case.”
President Donald Trump’s proclamation imposes a global 25% tariff on certain steel imports and a 10% tariff on certain aluminum imports to begin in 15 days. Trump said Canada and Mexico present a special case and steel and aluminum from those two countries are not covered by the tariffs. In addition, the proclamation notes that any country with which the U.S. has a "security relationship" can "discuss with the United States alternative ways to address the threatened impairment of the national security caused by imports from that country."