Contact: Holly Hart (202) 778-4384
(Pittsburgh) -- The United Steelworkers (USW) International President Leo W. Gerard issued the following statement this morning following the release of annual trade deficit figures for 2017:
“President Trump can add another record-setting number to his list of accomplishments – highest trade deficit with China during his first year.
“As a candidate, the President promised to reduce the trade deficit, end China’s cheating, stop unfair trade in steel and aluminum, and reverse the tide of lost jobs due to trade. Despite many promises, workers are still waiting for a new approach.
“The President’s Department of Commerce released data on last year’s trade deficit that shows an increase in the goods deficit of roughly $60 billion for his first year.
“Steel imports surged more than 20 percent and aluminum by more than 30 percent last year.
“The stock market is tumbling, but the trade deficit is rising. That is bad news for hard working Americans whose retirement accounts and jobs are threatened.”
The USW represents 850,000 workers in North America employed in many industries that include metals, rubber, chemicals, paper, oil refining and the service and public sectors. For more information: www.usw.org