Pro-worker organizations argue for targeted tariffs

(The Center Square) – When used judiciously, some Democrats speculate that tariffs can be a good thing. In Pennsylvania, where steel has been a central component of the state’s economy, they’re arguing for different tactics.

“I think it should be easy for us to criticize Donald Trump’s tariffs and his trade approach right now, which is hurting a lot of people. A lot of businesses and workers in Pennsylvania,” said Congressman Chris Deluzio, who represents the 17th district northwest of Pittsburgh.

He spoke at the Harrisburg stop of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders’s Fighting Oligarchy tour just hours after Cleveland Cliffs announced it would be at least temporarily closing a plant in neighboring Steelton. The move will impact 500 workers. The company will also be idling a Conshohocken plant, costing 115 jobs.

The manufacturer has previously expressed optimism that the Trump administration’s tariffs will ultimately return work to the country’s steel industry.

In February, its President, Chairman, and CEO Lourenco Goncalves said, “The tariffs will penalize the foreign competitors who have been playing by a different set of rules while strengthening the domestic producers who actually invest in American workers, American manufacturing and American supply chains.”

In March, President Trump announced a 25% tariff on all steel imports. That was before “Liberation Day” on which blanket tariffs were enacted, drastically impacting most of the nation’s trade partners and setting off a wave of global economic instability that continues today.

Advocates say that with patience, the tariffs will have a positive impact on the U.S. economy. Others worry about the potential for a global recession.

“For me, I’ve laid out what I think is a better, a different vision–targeted enforcement, real muscular industrial policy, especially around sectors that we need for our national security and core infrastructure and then pairing that with pro-worker policies like the PRO Act and better apprenticeship and training for folks,” said Deluzio. “That is so far away from what Donald Trump is doing.”

The Protecting the Right to Organize, or PRO Act would amend labor laws to strengthen employees’ ability to collectively bargain. Republican legislators have balked at the power it would extend to unions like American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations,  or AFL-CIO, which represents over 15 million American workers.

Companies like U.S. Steel, have seen opportunities in states like Arkansas that don’t allow for collective bargaining, but workers say they will feel the impact of tariffs with or without strong unions.

“Here’s the thing about tariffs,” said Maurice Cobb, Secretary Treasurer of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO. As union members, we understand that tariffs when they’re used thoughtfully, part of a holistic coordinated strategy, it’s much different than what this Administration is doing.”

He said that the current trade policy was undoing much of the work that had been done to keep manufacturing jobs in America, “pitting worldwide workers against each other” for the profit of the few.

“Under the previous administration, we saw tariffs used as a part of a wider worker-centered trade policy,” said Cobb. “One that targeted cheaters, one that built and maintained relationships with our allies, not destroyed them, one that paired trade remedies with investments in our infrastructure and robust buy-American provisions.”

“We must vigorously enforce our trade laws and hold cheaters accountable, but we must think bigger than what Donald Trump is doing,” said Cobb.