“Unstable,” “unpredictable,” and “slow” are words that both steel producers and steel-using manufacturers (steel “consumers”) are using to describe steel market conditions heading into 2020.

On Monday, President Trump announced plans to restore tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports from Brazil and Argentina. The announcement caught everyone by surprise raises many questions. 

Paul Nathanson, executive director for the Coalition of American Metal Manufacturers and Users, explains why the Section 232 steel tariffs were a futile effort to save domestic steel.