A typical response to tariffs is to move the production in country. The fundamental response needed from the U.S. companies is to improve their product or process to continue to win business without the tariff.
There is production in this country. This mill just needs to have its acquisition, of raw steel, come from in country, instead of from Russia.
Tariffs are disruptive to both sides of the trade.
Americans pay more for imports and that is going to hurt marginal enterprises who are heavily dependent on imported goods.
And of course the foreign exporter to the U.S is hurt by the reduction in demand for his products due to their higher price in the U.S.
So I’m against tariffs as a long term method for trying to make trade “more fair”. And ... I THINK THAT IS TRUMPS POSITION AS WELL. He is basically a free trade, may the best man win, advocate.
So I’m betting that Trump believes he can use tariffs to force us that direction.
But I could be wrong. It has happened.