Steve Inskeep

Good morning, Leila.

Good morning, Leila.

Good morning, Leila.

Trump says he wants to protect the blue-collar jobs at U.S. steel mills and aluminum smelters. He announced that the tariff's going to 50% in front of a crowd of hardhat-wearing steel workers outside Pittsburgh on Friday. And the higher tariffs likely will provide a boost for those domestic companies that produce steel and aluminum.

Trump says he wants to protect the blue-collar jobs at U.S. steel mills and aluminum smelters. He announced that the tariff's going to 50% in front of a crowd of hardhat-wearing steel workers outside Pittsburgh on Friday. And the higher tariffs likely will provide a boost for those domestic companies that produce steel and aluminum.

Trump says he wants to protect the blue-collar jobs at U.S. steel mills and aluminum smelters. He announced that the tariff's going to 50% in front of a crowd of hardhat-wearing steel workers outside Pittsburgh on Friday. And the higher tariffs likely will provide a boost for those domestic companies that produce steel and aluminum.

However, for every steel worker in America, there are about 80 people who work at companies that use steel, and their costs are about to go up.

However, for every steel worker in America, there are about 80 people who work at companies that use steel, and their costs are about to go up.

However, for every steel worker in America, there are about 80 people who work at companies that use steel, and their costs are about to go up.

Yeah, it's very challenging. I spoke to H.O. Woltz, who runs a company in Mount Airy, North Carolina, that twists steel wire into cables used in reinforced concrete. He's worried that his cost for raw materials is now going to be twice as high as what international competitors are paying on the world market.

Yeah, it's very challenging. I spoke to H.O. Woltz, who runs a company in Mount Airy, North Carolina, that twists steel wire into cables used in reinforced concrete. He's worried that his cost for raw materials is now going to be twice as high as what international competitors are paying on the world market.

Yeah, it's very challenging. I spoke to H.O. Woltz, who runs a company in Mount Airy, North Carolina, that twists steel wire into cables used in reinforced concrete. He's worried that his cost for raw materials is now going to be twice as high as what international competitors are paying on the world market.

During the first Trump administration, Waltz's company was doubly squeezed because they had to pay more for raw steel, but were still competing with imported finished goods that didn't face tariffs. This time around, he is better off because the Trump administration is also taxing some of those downstream finished goods.

During the first Trump administration, Waltz's company was doubly squeezed because they had to pay more for raw steel, but were still competing with imported finished goods that didn't face tariffs. This time around, he is better off because the Trump administration is also taxing some of those downstream finished goods.

During the first Trump administration, Waltz's company was doubly squeezed because they had to pay more for raw steel, but were still competing with imported finished goods that didn't face tariffs. This time around, he is better off because the Trump administration is also taxing some of those downstream finished goods.

But Waltz worries that the tariffs might push the cost of building materials up so high that it just puts some construction projects on hold.

But Waltz worries that the tariffs might push the cost of building materials up so high that it just puts some construction projects on hold.

But Waltz worries that the tariffs might push the cost of building materials up so high that it just puts some construction projects on hold.

It's really widespread. You know, steel and aluminum are used in so many of the things we make or buy in this country, from auto parts to oil drilling equipment to a can of soda pop or green beans you buy at the supermarket.

It's really widespread. You know, steel and aluminum are used in so many of the things we make or buy in this country, from auto parts to oil drilling equipment to a can of soda pop or green beans you buy at the supermarket.