According to a new article by Peter Navarro, the White House senior counselor for trade and manufacturing, President Trump’s 2018 tariffs revived U.S. aluminum production. However, Democrat Joe Biden’s exemptions damaged America, leading to surging imports and collapsing domestic capacity. Now Trump is turning that back around again.
Navarro has made several appearances in the media to talk about President Trump’s Tariffs:
Navarro reminds Americans in his recent Op-Ed, in a push to support Trump’s Tariff plan, that by 2024, American smelters—industrial facilities that extract and refine metals from raw ores—shut down while Australia, Canada, Mexico, and others flooded the market with subsidized aluminum.
Smelters play a crucial role in producing aluminum for construction, transportation, packaging, and defense, but high energy costs and foreign competition make them vulnerable.
In his op-ed, Navarro says that Trump’s new 25% tariff eliminates exemptions and aims to restore U.S. industry.
He points out that while foreign nations protest, history shows they exploited previous loopholes, flooding the market and undermining American production. Trump’s move ends unchecked imports, ensuring aluminum remains a pillar of national security and economic strength while safeguarding American jobs and manufacturing.
Navarro’s point of view is essential for people to understand Trump’s Tariff agenda.
This is from a Friday White House Press release about the Op-Ed:
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 02/28/25 ICYMI: NAVARRO: President Trump’s Aluminum Tariffs Is “Far More Than a Trade Battle” |
| In today’s USA TODAY, White House Senior Counselor for Trade and Manufacturing Peter Navarro outlined how President Donald J. Trump’s tariffs on aluminum imports is about far more than just trade — it’s a fight for the survival of an essential American industry. President Trump is now writing a new story for the United States. With one stroke of Trump’s pen, the Biden era of idled smelters and declining capacity utilization will come to an end as a golden age of American aluminum production regains its rightful place as a pillar of national security and economic strength. This is far more than a trade battle. It’s a fight for the survival of an essential American industry. |
Read the Full Navarro Op-Ed here:
Trump tariffs will save American jobs and level the playing field | Opinion