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Groups push to avoid metals import restrictions

Eighteen food and agriculture groups are pushing the Trump administration to not restrict imports of steel and aluminum.  The groups fear that such restrictions might prompt retaliation that would have a bad effect on U.S. agriculture exports.

In a letter to U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, the groups point out that many countries that export the metals to the U.S. are also large importers of U.S. agriculture products.  The U.S. is the world’s largest steel importer.

Among the groups signing the letter to Secretary Ross are the National Pork Producers Council, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the American Soybean Association and the American Farm Bureau Federation.