Pop Quiz!!

Question: How many workers use steel to make products in the United States, compared to every one job in the U.S. steel industry?

A. It doesn't matter
B. One for one
C. 50 steel-consuming jobs for every steelworker

Answer: C. We're talking about more than 9 million jobs in the automobile industry, the machinery industry, the construction industry, the appliance industry and many others. These are good, high-paying jobs, too.

Question: So what's wrong with H.R. 808/S.957's1.5 percent steel tax to raise money for legacy costs?

A. Nothing
B. It would cost steel-consuming jobs
C. It will cost both steelworker AND steel-consuming jobs

Answer: C again! In fact, the steel tax will cost more than 400 steel jobs by raising the cost and cutting sales of both imported and U.S.-made steel. In addition, it will cost another 18,000 jobs in major steel-consuming industries (almost 2,000 in autos and parts, more than 3,000 in fabricated metals, more than 3,000 in non-electric machinery production, and almost 7,000 in construction).

If you were inclined to answer "A" in both cases, you can hardly be faulted; the debate has been a little one-sided so far. But now it's time to hear another side to this story.

CITAC'S SOLUTIONS:

• Give consumers a voice in the steel policy-formulation process;
• Allow imports of steel products unavailable from U.S. suppliers;
• Do not layer steel quotas on top of other types of import restrictions;
• Do not rush the process with an early imposition of steel quotas.

Get all the facts: Call CITAC

The Consuming Industries Trade Action Coalition

www.citac-trade.org