> I don't know enough about the nuts and bolts of the situation to render a > well argued case either way, but: 1) the decision appears to fly in the > face of everything Republicans, at least, claim to believe about business > and free trade, > Marvin Long > Austin, Texas
Actually if you want to believe the broad brushstrokes that usually paint Republicans, this decision by the President would be right on target. After all there are still American steel companies that are making a profit for the owners, this way the owners and shareholders can squeeze more money out of the system, until the companies are nothing but dry husks that they can let go bankrupt. Hell this is a two-fer: the rich Republicans friends can profit, and those evil Democrat lovin' unions have to admit that the Republican President helped them! Now to talk in the real world, I don't support the tariffs either but I have some questions. 1. This is very extreme, but would it hurt America if there were no steel mills in the country? 2. Does this effect in any way other metal companies like aluminum, or even iron? Is it just a specific type(s) of steel or just the general definition of steel? 3. I've heard the old saw about Germany and Japan being able to beat us because we rebuilt their factories after W.W.II, but wouldn't those plants be forty to fifty-five years old? Don't they say now that the 'dumped' steel is from Russia and China? 4. Are there dumping laws? Are they being broken? If yes, does America government ignore the laws being broken or are international courts too slow or do they not side with America? 5. Does American pollution laws have any bearing on this? 6. Can the different prices between American and other countries steel be specifically tied to one or some items: wages, ore prices, fuel prices, older factories, something else? 7. If other steel countries, through government support, are artificially holding down the prices, should America do something? 7a and 1a. America has propped up other companies, Airlines, Car makers, shouldn't it do it for steel? Kevin T.
