Steel giants with ties to Trump officials block tariff relief for hundreds of firms

WASHINGTON – Two of America's biggest steel manufacturers — both with deep ties to administration officials — have successfully objected to hundreds of requests by American companies that buy foreign steel to exempt themselves from President Trump's stiff metal tariffs. They have argued that the imported products are readily available from American steel manufacturers.

Charlotte-based Nucor, which financed a documentary film made by a top trade adviser to Mr. Trump, and Pittsburgh-based United States Steel, which has previously employed several top administration officials, have objected to 1,600 exemption requests filed with the Commerce Department over the past several months.

http://www.startribune.com/steel-giants-with-ties-to-trump-officials-block-tariff-relief-for-hundreds-of-firms/490206281/