For hundreds of years, steel has been a foundation of industry. As early as 4,000 BC, steel was produced in small batches in crucible and bloomery furnaces. Spanish steel was the preferred material for swords in Roman times. Iron and steel production became a major US industry over time. The American steel industry suffered in recent years from foreign competition. Tariffs have been used to support the American steel industry almost since the founding of the country. In 1791, Treasurer Alexander Hamilton proposed steel tariffs, among other things to boost the growing American industries. Hamilton’s tariffs were all adopted. Since then, both Democrats (Lyndon Johnson and Jimmy Carter) as well as Republicans (Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan) have imposed tariffs on steel.
As he did in his first term, President Trump is again proposing tariffs on foreign steel, and the CEO of America’s largest steel producer is praising the effort.
Fox News Digital has learned that the CEO of Nucor Corp. – the U.S.’s largest steel producer – endorsed President Donald Trump’s tariffs against China, Canada, and Mexico.
Nucor salutes President Trump’s first steps in his America First Trade Agenda, Leon J. Topalian wrote in a Friday statement obtained by Fox News Digital. “We look to working with President Trump on enforcing our trade laws and strengthening American manufacturing!”

The letter’s subject is “Presidential executive orders on Canada, Mexico, and the People’s Republic of China.”
Nucor, a steel and scrap metal recycling company based in North Carolina, is the largest producer of steel and scrap metal in the United States.
Before Democrats start screaming about this move made by President Trump we should note that it was also done by the previous president.
Joe Biden’s called to triple tariffs against Chinese steel imports is a symbolic move that has little impact on an industry already facing greater concerns about sagging local demand and the threat of even more severe blowbacks due to China’s booming exports.
The steel consumption of the second largest economy in the world is expected to fall again this year, as the protracted real estate crisis continues to drag on and the growth in infrastructure demand slows down after 12 heavily indebted areas were told to stop certain projects.
Topalian, CEO of the company in question, does what is right for his business. He is protecting the jobs of his employees and the market share of his company. It’s what he needs to do. In both his first and second terms, President Trump has used tariffs as a negotiation tactic.

It’s working.
We should point out that steel is not a consumer product in the same way as avocados or beer. We can grow avocados in the United States, and even if not, we could live without the wrinkly, green death fruits. (Seriously I don’t understand the appeal.). I could make beer in my kitchen, but I don’t see the appeal. Many craft beers are made in America. Some of them are only 30 miles away from where I am sitting right now, so homebrewing is not necessary. And unlike Corona, these craft beers taste great. We can’t live without steel. Steel is used for everything from automobiles and trucks to aircraft, firearms, buildings, and many other things that bandwidth does not allow me to mention. Steel is essential, and with the state of world affairs today, it’s important to ensure a steady supply at home.
Washington should be focusing on ensuring that the domestic steel supply is of a high quality.
Tariffs proposed by President Trump in the case of Canada or Mexico could be a tactic to bargain. China also makes a large amount of steel. Chinese steel is usually of lower quality but they produce and sell a large amount. Nucor, a major American steel producer, should be encouraged.