American Steelmakers See an Election Boost

When Donald Trump presented his infrastructure stimulus plan last August, executives at America’s leading steelmakers, including U.S. Steel, Nucor, and AK Steel, knew that no matter who won the presidency, their industry would benefit. “We have bridges that are falling down,” Trump said in an interview at the time, as he committed to double the $275 billion promised by Hillary Clinton for similar projects. “I don’t know if you’ve seen the warning charts, but we have many, many bridges that are in danger of falling.”

It’s not just bridges. During the campaign, Trump said his top priorities would include the country’s highways, tunnels, airports, and electrical grid, all in need of repair. He threatened to penalize China for steel imports, which in 2014 rose to their highest level since the financial crisis, according to China’s Customs General Administration. The United Steelworkers say imports have contributed to factory job losses.