Trump considering huge tariff increase on steel, aluminum with weak ‘national security’ rationale
That rationale is “weak,” according to a collection of libertarian, conservative, and nonpartisan think tanks—the American Legislative Exchange Council, ALEC Action, the R Street Institute, the Competitive Enterprise Institute, FreedomWorks and the National Taxpayers Union—that wrote an open letter to the White House on Friday opposing the tariffs. In the event of a conflict, the Pentagon has specific deals with American allies to continue supplying steel and aluminum.
“The national security case to restrict steel and aluminum imports is thin and the toll such restrictions would take on the economy is considerable,” the groups say. “Steel and aluminum tariffs or other import restrictions would hurt downstream domestic manufacturers.”
