In a letter issued today, 10 US steel associations urged the president to strengthen the US’ existing “Buy America” domestic procurement preferences. The signers include the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM); American Foundry Society (AFS); American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC); American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI); Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute (CRSI); Iron Mining Association of Minnesota (IMA); Municipal Castings Association (MCS); Specialty Steel Industry of North America (SSINA); Steel Manufacturers Association (SMA); and United Steelworkers (USW).
“The foundation of a strong Buy America program is the longstanding requirement that all steel manufacturing processes occur in the United States for a product to be Buy America compliant – from the actual steel production to the finishing processes,” the letter said.
The “melted and poured” standard was implemented in 1983, requiring that all manufacturing processes occur domestically.
In the letter, the associations stated they “strongly oppose efforts to weaken Buy America by allowing imported steel that is finished in the United States to be used in taxpayer-funded infrastructure projects.” If imported steel was allowed to be used in such projects, it would “encourage the outsourcing of the major elements of the steelmaking supply chain that account for a majority of the capital investment and employment,” the letter said.
In the letter, the associations stated they “strongly oppose efforts to weaken Buy America by allowing imported steel that is finished in the United States to be used in taxpayer-funded infrastructure projects.” If imported steel was allowed to be used in such projects, it would “encourage the outsourcing of the major elements of the steelmaking supply chain that account for a majority of the capital investment and employment,” the letter said.
The letter concluded by stating the associations look forward to working with the Trump administration “to ensure that Buy America remains strong and that our infrastructure is built with steel that is melted and poured in America.”