Steel tariffs tied to national security, Butler mill
Part of the reason for President Donald Trump’s success in Butler County in 2020 was his pledge to assist then-AK Steel by imposing significant tariffs on imported products made at the mill in Butler.
While Trump’s 25% tariff on imported steel and 10% on aluminum imposed in 2018 were rejected on Friday, Dec. 9, by the World Trade Organization, which said they violated global trade rules, President Joe Biden’s administration criticized the WTO’s rejection of the tariffs.
“The United States strongly rejects the flawed interpretation and conclusions,” said Adam Hodge, spokesman for the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. “The United States has held the clear and unequivocal position, for over 70 years, that issues of national security cannot be reviewed in WTO dispute settlement.”
