Economy

Nucor Calls for Stronger Buy American Policies
Written by Tim Triplett
September 24, 2017
Nucor Corp. executives urged the U.S. Trade Representative and Department of Commerce to vigorously oppose any efforts to weaken existing Buy America/n requirements, in their comments on President Trump’s April executive order. The steel company also urged the U.S. government to take additional action to stimulate demand for domestic steel in U.S. and foreign government procurement markets.
President Trump issued the executive order this spring instructing all federal agencies to assess how well Buy American policies are implemented and enforced. A final report is due in November. The public comment period ended last week. Nucor was among many companies and individuals that voiced support, and opposition, to current Buy American rules. Steel Market Update reported on the American Iron and Steel Institute’s comments last week.
“Nucor supports the president’s efforts to crack down on weak Buy America enforcement, close existing loopholes and limit the use of waivers and exceptions,” said a company statement. “We look forward to working with the Department of Commerce and other agencies to ensure that this order, and the forthcoming report on strengthening Buy America, due to the president in November, results in maximum benefit to U.S. manufacturers and their workers.”
Nucor is the largest steel producer in the United States with production capacity that exceed 27 million tons, 200 operating facilities in North America and a workforce of 24,000. Many of Nucor’s products, from steel fasteners to cut-to-length plate, are used in federally funded projects.

Tim Triplett
Read more from Tim TriplettLatest in Economy

Second steel derivatives S232 inclusion window opens, business community voices concern
The US Department of Commerce announced that its second window for submitting applications for the inclusion of derivative steel and aluminum products in Section 232 tariffs is now open, according to the US Federal Register. September’s Inclusion Window Sept. 15 through Sept. 29, applicants can email requests for inclusions to the Defense Industrial Base Programs. The first […]

Steel Summit: ITR economist urges execs to prepare for growth, not recession
If the steel industry professionals who made it to the very final presentation of this year’s SMU Steel Summit were expecting another round of cautious forecasting, they were in for a surprise. Because what they got was a wake-up call.

ISM: Manufacturing growth remained down in August
US manufacturing activity remained muted in August despite a marginal gain from July's recent low, according to supply executives contributing to the Institute for Supply Management (ISM)’s latest report.

Steel Summit: Dr. Basu blames tariffs for riskier path ahead
Steel executives packed the main conference hall of the 2025 SMU Steel Summit on Tuesday, Aug. 26, to hear economist Dr. Anirban Basu lay out his blunt view of tariffs, inflation, and demand.

Steel Summit: Schneider sees SDI ‘on the edge of a very good run’
Steel Dynamics Inc. (SDI) President and Chief Operating Officer, Barry Schneider, remains bullish about the Fort Wayne, Ind.-based steelmaker’s position in the current market.