We are open-minded to reciprocity as a bargaining tool to bring tariffs on U.S. products down. But we are always and everywhere against protectionist tariffs. They never work to create jobs, and as we learned from the U.S. auto industry in the 1970s and 80s, they simply subsidize inefficiency and stunt innovation.

They also raise prices and put our domestic manufacturing industries at a cost disadvantage.

Here’s a picture that’s worth 1000 words:

The US average price of hot rolled coil (HRC) steel is now about double the price in the rest of the world.