Swamp Notes Trump’s big play to save steel production
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Jun 7, 2025 
Joining the discussion are Alan Beattie, a senior trade writer at the Financial Times with expertise in global trade dynamics, and Zehra Munir, an industrial reporter focused on breaking news in manufacturing. They dive into President Trump's bold move to double steel tariffs to 50%, analyzing its potential to revive American manufacturing. The conversation also touches on the controversial partnership between U.S. Steel and Japan’s Nippon Steel, exploring local reactions in Pennsylvania and the complex interplay between jobs, unions, and political narratives.
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Steel's Limited Economic Impact
- Steel is a small part of the US economy with only 0.06% of workers employed in it.
- It attracts excessive protection for political reasons despite limited economic importance.
Trump Rally at Steel Plant
- Trump held a rally at a steel plant in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, a symbolically important steel town.
- General public downtown was unaware he was in town, showing the city's economic shift.
Workers Embrace Nippon Deal
- Workers showed mixed feelings about Nippon Steel's acquisition of US Steel; many saw it as a job-saving opportunity.
- This split public opinion from union leadership, which opposed the foreign takeover.