President Trump has once again shaken up the economic and trade landscape by hiking tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to a flat 25%—with no exceptions or exemptions. His goal? To strengthen American industry, protect domestic jobs, and counteract unfair foreign competition, particularly from China and Russia.

But the real question is: Will these tariffs truly help American workers, or will they backfire and make manufacturing more expensive, costing jobs in the long run?

I believe in fair competition, strong national security, and policies that actually help American workers and businesses—without unnecessary government intervention. While Trump’s instincts on protecting American industry are commendable, history and economics suggest that tariffs are a blunt tool with serious unintended consequences.

Let’s break it down and see if this policy is America First—or just a well-intended miscalculation.

The Case for Tariffs: Protecting American Industry & National Security

At first glance, Trump’s move makes sense. China has spent decades manipulating global trade, dumping cheap, government-subsidized steel and aluminum into international markets to undercut competitors and dominate the industry. This isn’t free-market capitalism—it’s economic warfare.

• The Chinese Communist Party has artificially propped up its steel industry, creating an oversupply that has devastated American producers.
• China’s “ghost cities” and infrastructure booms have fueled their steel production far beyond what they actually need—so they dump the excess onto the global market at dirt-cheap prices.
• American steelmakers can’t compete with a country that is willing to lose money to destroy competitors.

This is not just a business issue—it’s a national security issue.

Why? Because steel and aluminum are essential to our defense industry, infrastructure, and energy sector:

• Military Equipment – Aircraft, tanks, and warships all depend on American-made steel.
• Energy Sector – Pipelines, power plants, and even wind turbines require large amounts of steel and aluminum.
• Infrastructure – If we want to rebuild roads, bridges, and factories, we need a reliable supply of domestic materials.

Allowing China and other countries to dictate the price of steel puts America at risk. If we become too dependent on foreign steel and a global crisis cuts off that supply, we could be left in the dark—literally and figuratively.

And let’s not ignore Mexico’s role in allowing Chinese steel to sneak into the U.S. The loopholes Trump is closing were allowing foreign producers to circumvent previous tariffs by shipping steel to Mexico first, then sending it into America as a “Mexican” product. That’s not fair trade—that’s a shell game.

So, in theory, Trump’s move is justified. But the problem is tariffs don’t exist in theory—they have real-world consequences.

The Case Against Tariffs: Unintended Consequences & Economic Pain

1. Tariffs Raise Prices for American Businesses and Consumers

Here’s the biggest issue: Tariffs may protect steel producers, but they drive up costs for every other industry that uses steel and aluminum—which is most of the economy.

Think about all the industries that depend on steel and aluminum:

• Automobile manufacturers – Higher costs mean more expensive cars for consumers.
• Construction companies – Higher costs for materials mean fewer projects and lost jobs.
• Energy companies – Higher costs make it more expensive to build pipelines, power plants, and wind turbines.

According to Citi Bank, steel prices could increase by $100 to $150 per short ton due to these tariffs. That doesn’t just hurt businesses—it hurts everyday Americans.

2. Tariffs Cost More Jobs Than They Save

The hard truth is that tariffs don’t always save jobs—they often destroy them in other industries.

• The Federal Reserve found that Trump’s 2018 steel tariffs actually cost America 75,000 manufacturing jobs.
• Jim Geraghty from National Reviewboth points out that Trump’s previous steel and aluminum tariffs raised costs for manufacturers, hurting far more workers than they helped.
• The Peterson Institute for International Economics estimated that those tariffs cost U.S. consumers and businesses $11.5 billion per year.

Even worse, between 2018 and 2022, the steel industry actually lost jobs—shrinking by 4.2% despite the tariffs. So, did the tariffs really work?

Here’s the reality:

• Steel jobs make up a small portion of U.S. manufacturing jobs.
• Industries that use steel outnumber steel producers by an 80-to-1 margin.
• When tariffs drive up the cost of steel, it hurts more businesses than it helps.

Yes, we need to counter China’s unfair trade practices, but hurting American businesses in the process doesn’t make us stronger—it makes us weaker.

So, What’s the Better Solution?

If Trump truly wants to bring back American manufacturing, he should focus on policies that make American steel competitive—without punishing other industries.

1. Target China Directly, Not Allies

Instead of broad, universal tariffs, Trump should laser-focus on China and penalize their predatory pricing and unfair subsidies—without hurting Canada, Mexico, Japan, and the EU, who are our trading partners and allies.

2. Cut Regulations & Taxes to Boost U.S. Industry

The biggest reason American steel is expensive isn’t just foreign competition—it’s government overregulation. Instead of tariffs, why not:

• Cut unnecessary labor regulations that drive up costs for U.S. steelmakers.
• Reduce corporate taxes to make American manufacturing more competitive.
• Invest in domestic energy production (lower energy costs help steel mills thrive).

3. Strengthen Domestic Supply Chains

If steel is a national security issue, then treat it like one. Instead of tariffs, offer:

• Tax incentives for domestic steel production.
• Federal contracts for American-made steel.
• Infrastructure investments that directly support the industry.

Final Verdict: Good Intentions, Bad Execution

Look, I respect what Trump is trying to do. He sees a real problem, and he’s willing to fight for American workers. That’s far better than politicians who sell us out to China.

But this tariff policy is too broad and too costly. While it may help steelworkers in the short run, it could hurt American manufacturing overall.

As a Christian conservative, I believe in wise stewardship and free markets. The Bible warns against dishonest trade (Proverbs 11:1), but also emphasizes the power of hard work and free enterprise (Proverbs 22:29).

America shouldn’t surrender to China’s economic warfare, but we also shouldn’t make life harder for our own businesses. Trump needs to refine this strategy—before American workers and consumers pay the price.

What do you think? Should America double down on tariffs, or is there a smarter way forward?