Senior Trump adviser Navarro says permanent tariffs are necessary to counter foreign subsidies and protect American industry. “We don’t have allies when it comes to our steel industry,” he says. “We only have countries that want to gain market share at the expense of American workers.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Peter Navarro, senior counselor to President Trump, has defended the administration’s decision to reinstate steel and aluminum tariffs, calling them essential for national security. Speaking to reporters outside the White House on February 11, Navarro argued that foreign countries have flooded the U.S. market with subsidized metals, undermining American industry and national security.
He pointed to China and South Korea as key contributors to the global steel and aluminum surplus, alleging that they “dump” their excess capacity into the U.S. market. “A major aluminum company in Australia, the major shareholder of it is China, and they just flood our markets with heavily government-subsidized steel,” Navarro said. “And South Korea is also a country that just, overcapacity, dumps steel, [and] we suffer.”
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The move marks a return to Trump’s 2018 trade policies, which initially imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum imports under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act. The tariffs were later relaxed under President Joe Biden’s administration, a decision that Navarro characterized as a strategic mistake. “What Joe Biden did was gut them, and all we’re doing is re-imposing them,” he said.
When pressed on whether reinstating the tariffs would strain relations with key allies, Navarro dismissed concerns, asserting that no country has acted as a true ally when it comes to steel and aluminum trade. “We don’t have allies when it comes to our steel industry,” he said. “We only have countries that want to gain market share at the expense of American workers.”
Navarro framed the tariffs as essential for national security, arguing that a strong domestic steel and aluminum industry is crucial in times of crisis. “If we don’t have a strong aluminum and steel industry, then we will not be able to defend ourselves. Full stop,” he emphasized.
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He further claimed that the United States initially attempted to work with trading partners to curb unfair trade practices, but these countries ultimately failed to honor their commitments. “They abuse the favors that were given to them,” he said, adding that President Trump “has the back of the American people” and will not tolerate such actions.
Addressing the timeline of the new trade measures, Navarro stated unequivocally that the tariffs would be permanent. “The tariffs are permanent,” he declared. “Because the problem is permanent.”
Navarro pointed to global overcapacity as the primary issue, accusing countries such as China, Russia, Japan, Brazil, Australia, Argentina, and South Korea of excessive production fueled by government subsidies. This excess capacity, he argued, results in unfair competition, as surplus steel and aluminum are dumped into the U.S. market at artificially low prices. “They misclassify stuff. They use all sorts of trans-shipping, going through different countries,” he said, listing ways in which foreign producers allegedly circumvent trade rules.
The administration’s decision to make the tariffs permanent signals a hardline stance on trade policy, contrasting with the more flexible approach seen under Biden’s leadership. Navarro claimed that previous global efforts to address overcapacity have failed and that the U.S. has unfairly borne the burden of an unbalanced steel market. “This is a crisis that’s been going on for 20 years now,” he said. “And the United States has borne the heaviest burden.”
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No exemptions for partners
A reporter raised questions about potential exemptions, particularly for allies such as Australia. Navarro dismissed the idea, stating that the administration had already negotiated steel tariffs in 2018 and that countries had failed to abide by their agreements. “We had all these negotiations. We gave a lot of our trading partners some dispensation… but then Joe Biden opened the barn doors and all sorts of stuff,” he said.
Navarro’s remarks suggest that the administration will not entertain exemptions, even for strategic allies. The renewed tariffs come amid broader trade tensions, including recent measures targeting Mexico and Canada. When questioned whether the rapid rollout of tariffs, some of which had been temporarily delayed, might disrupt negotiations or cause confusion among trading partners, Navarro dismissed those concerns, maintaining that the administration has taken a firm stance against unfair trade practices.
Beyond steel and aluminum, Navarro framed the tariffs as part of a broader strategy to address America’s trade deficit. “We’ve got an international trade crisis because of [a] trillion-dollar-a-year trade deficit,” he said, reinforcing the administration’s position that aggressive trade measures are necessary to protect American industries.
The reinstatement of tariffs reflects Trump’s long-standing “America First” economic policy, which prioritizes domestic job creation and industrial strength over free trade agreements. Navarro’s comments indicate that the administration views protectionist policies as vital to the country’s economic prosperity and security.
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As the Trump administration moves forward with these tariffs, the impact on diplomatic relations and global markets remains to be seen. However, one thing is clear: the White House is signaling a return to its hardline trade policies, with no intention of backing down.