Laid-off Minnesota steel miners trust President Donald Trump’s tariffs to rebalance global trade and restore jobs in the American steel industry, citing concerns over cheap Chinese steel that hurt US demand during the Biden administration.
US steelworkers who lost their jobs under President Joe Biden are looking to President Donald Trump’s 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports as a way to repatriate jobs. Despite criticism from some economists, CEO Lourenco Goncalves of Cleveland-Cliffs, which reported a $483 million loss, shares the workers’ faith in Trump’s push for domestic manufacturing.
Laid-off union member Jon Bird is ready to “hunker down” on unemployment benefits and wait for demand to return, but fears that without a change, he might not find steady work again. However, many believe that Trump’s initiatives, including reloading American shipbuilding, hold promise for the industry’s revival.
The high-paying steelworkers’ union job Bird holds pays between $112,000 to $125,000 per year, making it difficult for him to afford living in his area of St. Louis County, where the per capita income is just $39,778.
Source: https://www.wlsam.com/2025/05/18/ny-times-steel-miners-keep-faith-in-trumps-tariffs