Staff Reports
President Biden, in a not-so-surprising move, is seeking to crack down on China’s unfair trade practices. This time, he’s setting his sights on Chinese steel and aluminum, proposing to triple the tariff rates if investigators confirm the allegations.
Biden made this announcement during a visit to the United Steelworkers union headquarters in Pittsburgh, where he passionately declared that the backbone of America has a steel spine. Strong words, for sure, but does anyone else find it ironic that this is coming from a guy who championed limp-spined policies for years? Just saying.
Biden vows to protect U.S. steel industryhttps://t.co/lqnGiaFxp0
— The Center Square (@thecentersquare) April 18, 2024
The president is really pounding the table about this issue, insisting that China’s subsidized steel exports are flooding the market with cheaper, lower-quality materials. With his characteristic folksy charm, Biden remarked that the Chinese aren’t competing, they’re cheating. But hey, when you’re the most pro-union president in American history, you’ve got to make a show of supporting the steelworkers, right?
It’s no secret that Pennsylvania is Biden’s home state and a crucial battleground, so it’s no surprise that he wrapped up his three-day tour there. It’s all about the optics and pandering to the labor unions that hold sway in the state. But let’s not forget that his track record on labor issues is less than stellar.
In his bid to score political points, Biden has also taken a strong stance against a Japanese company’s offer to buy U.S. Steel, insisting that it should remain a wholly American company. It’s a promise he’s making to the American union steelworkers, who he hails as the best in the world.
So, there you have it, folks. President Biden is talking tough on China and standing up for American steel, all while cozying up to the unions in his home state. But it’s hard to ignore the fact that these moves seem more politically calculated than anything else. After all, actions speak louder than folksy soundbites. And as we’ve seen time and time again, Biden’s actions don’t always match his rhetoric.
