USW Calls on Congress to Protect Workers in Wake of Supreme Court Tariff Decision

Contact: Jess Kamm Broomell, [email protected], 412-562-2444

(Pittsburgh) – United Steelworkers (USW) International President David McCall issued the following statement today after the Supreme Court announced its decision curtailing the president’s capacity to institute tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA):

“For too long, American workers have borne the brunt of bad trade policies that did nothing to stem the tide of global overcapacity, illegal dumping and other unfair trade practices that eroded good jobs and undermined our communities.

“In the meantime, Congress has repeatedly refused to support American workers displaced by unfair trade, letting Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) lapse and failing to advance meaningful legislation that would institute broader reforms to our broken trade system.

“It’s an excess of short-term thinking and free trade ideology that got us into this mess. Now, we need sustainable solutions.

“We call on policymakers to prioritize revamping our trade system. This includes using tariffs and other trade remedies strategically, not to punish trusted allies like our Canadian partners, but to ensure American workers are able to compete on a level playing field now and for generations to come.”

The USW represents 850,000 workers employed in metals, mining, pulp and paper, rubber, chemicals, glass, auto supply and the energy-producing industries, along with a growing number of workers in health care, public sector, higher education, tech and service occupations.

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