×

Reed’s Support Of Tariffs Is Revealing

To The Reader’s Forum:

Never mind that the last time we imposed steel tariffs (under Bush), manufacturers fled, and jobs were lost. Those who are unable to learn from history seem doomed to do the same things over and over again.

Steel imports in the US represent about one third of the total steel sold nationwide, while nearly 90-percent of aluminum is imported. Tariffs on imported metals proposed by the Trump Administration are designed to benefit the domestic steel and aluminum processors, but manufacturers and construction trades down the line are likely to see higher prices to purchase the metals they need. That could mean higher prices for consumer goods, for everything from cars to canned beverages.

Congressman Tom Reed is standing by the President on these tariffs, despite the fact that a huge portion of the economy in his large district will be impacted by these new regulations. Manufacturers all across the country will feel the pinch. A report released by the Brookings Institute this past week shows that “the nation’s largest states dominate steel and aluminum imports,” including New York state. Undoubtedly, many of the local companies that rely on metal products will feel a hit.

Chautauqua County is home to 191 manufacturing businesses. Almost half of them work in or with metal trades, including sheet metal firms, machinists, hardware companies and businesses that manufacture components for transportation industries including aerospace, automobiles and trucks. Still more of these manufacturers are in the beverage industry, from grape juice to beer, and many of them sell products in aluminum cans.

In addition, there are 258 businesses in the construction trades in Chautauqua County, some working directly with steel installations and others that routinely purchase nails or other hardware for general construction. Collectively, these manufacturing and construction firms in Chautauqua County employ more than 10-thousand people, with an annual payroll of over $506-million. These numbers are taken directly from the US Census 2015 County Business Patterns data available publicly through the Census American FactFinder website.

Congressman Reed has campaigned hard in the past as a friend to manufacturing. But now, even while many Republicans in the House and Senate are expressing grave concerns over high tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, Congressman Reed has expressed strong support for the President, sticking to him like chewing gum, even before details were finalized. Who is he representing?

We need a Representative in Congress who will actively work, all the time, to improve economic conditions in Chautauqua County and across the Southern Tier. His support of a tariff plan that stands to harm local business suggests a Congressman out of touch with his constituency, and whose deeply partisan actions have become detrimental to us.

Susan Meara

Jamestown

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today