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What capacity do U.S. steel manufacturers have to meet demand if tariffs reduced imports?

Mar 7, 2018
President Donald Trump continues to press his case that imposing a 25 percent tariff on steel imports will add jobs and strengthen the industry. But some question whether steel manufacturers could meet demand if imports fell off.  According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. is the largest steel importer in the world, bringing […]

Are trade deficits bad for an economy?

Mar 6, 2018
President Donald Trump was back on the topic of trade today. Taking questions at the White House, he said that the United States “has been taken advantage of” on trade. And he doubled down on his promise to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. They are needed, he said, because of trade deficits. But […]

Texas could take a big hit if tariffs are introduced

Mar 6, 2018
President Donald Trump’s planned tariffs on steel and aluminum would affect businesses in many part of the nation. Some states, though, would be affected more than others. A paper published today by  the Tax Foundation criticizes the president’s plans and says thatTexas would  be hit hardest if tariffs were imposed. How exactly? Click the audio […]

Trump trade tariffs could save some jobs, endanger others

Mar 5, 2018
Approximately 140,000 Americans now work in primary steel and aluminum production — down from approximately 230,000 in 2000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Meanwhile, according to Moody’s Analytics, more than 6 million Americans work in industries that use steel and aluminum to make other products, such as motor vehicles, aerospace, construction and metal […]

Are we moving away from a global free market?

Mar 2, 2018
We look at how tariffs could affect current trade deals after Trump's surprise announcement this week.
President Trump participates in a meeting with leaders of the steel and aluminum industries at the White House on March 1.
Win McNamee/Getty Images

Steel broke Pittsburgh’s heart once. It won’t happen again

Mar 2, 2018
The Trump administration’s decision to slap stiff tariffs on imported aluminum and steel won’t make much difference to Pittsburgh. Nearly all the steel jobs in the city now are behind a desk. Click the audio player above to hear the full story. 

The Trump Administration’s options around tariffs and quotas

Feb 26, 2018
The Trump Administration is trying to figure out how to act on a campaign promise to make trade with China more fair. One thing the administration is considering is imposing tariffs or quotas on imports of steel and aluminum. The justification? National security. Here’s a look at the theory behind that connection, and the administration’s […]

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U.S. automakers help Mexican auto export surge in 2017

Jan 10, 2018
The number of vehicles imported to the United States from Mexico reached an all-time high last year. Mexico’s auto industry exported 2.3 million vehicles, which is nearly a 10 percent increase from the year before. Click the audio player above to hear the full story. 

Final rules over washing machine import tax sits with President Trump

Nov 22, 2017
President Donald Trump has a new trade decision on his plate: whether to impose tariffs on imported washing machines. The International Trade Commission has recommended a 50 percent tax on some foreign manufacturers. This is the type of case with huge political leeway for the president, and other industries seeking protection are watching closely.  Click […]

What do your margarita and NAFTA have in common?

Mar 22, 2017
Virtually all tequila in this country comes from Mexico.
Virtually all the tequila in the United States comes from Mexico. Plans to renegotiate or withdraw from NAFTA are affecting business plans for tequila makers.
Daisy Palacios/Marketplace