Patently untrue.
See the graphs I previously posted. Steel price has continued a long-term secular down trend.
LOL. See that huge spike up around 2000? What do you think caused it? Conservative economic minds were divided when the tariff was imposed. The are in complete agreement today that getting rid of it was the right thing to do. On the other hand, Gephardt, Clark, and Dean were immediately critical of the move.
Note to pompous imbecille: Demonstrating your ignorance and then telling someone they don't know what they are talking about does not constitute "making a point."
Steel making in the US averages less than 3 man hours per ton of steel produced. Since finished steel is up around $400 per ton on average, its difficult to see how materials are not the larger input, not labor. For example, at large integrated mills like Burns Harbor, labor input is about 1.5 manhours per ton of steel or less.
See that huge spike up around 2000? What do you think caused it?
You mean in 2002? Tarriffs were imposed in 2002. Do you see that equally big downward spike right afterwards? Since tarriffs were still in effect, what do you think caused that?
Note to pompous imbecille: Demonstrating your ignorance and then telling someone they don't know what they are talking about does not constitute "making a point."
I can see we are really deep into the topic by this comment.