He also championed the use of domestic steel, promising to pursue an infrastructure plan under which “new ships, bridges, tunnels
and airplanes will be constructed with American hands, American steel and, yes, American tools.”
Mr. Trump’s attention to trade and manufacturing — which helped him gain the White House — means
more here than any of the stumbles and missteps that feed late-night television comics.
“My confidence hasn’t been shaken at all,” said Mr. St. Amand, 37, who moved from
Kentucky 16 years ago to take an entry-level job at Nucor as a packager.
“We believe our full year 2017 could significantly exceed the level achieved for 2016,” he said, noting that “imports and inventories are down.”
Through the years, American producers’ main grievance has been
that China treats its highly subsidized steel industry as a giant government jobs programs.
Now the Huger plant can make that same ton from recycled material in 0.4 human-hours, said Mr. Daughtridge, who has worked for Nucor for 33 years.
In the book, “American Made: Why Making Things Will Return Us to Greatness,” Mr. DiMicco argues
that trade policies and the reluctance to impose punishing tariffs have cost the United States millions of manufacturing jobs.