Steel Under Siege: Tariffs, National Security, and Economic Spillover

THE JEROME CHAZEN CASE SERIES

This case examines the impact of the 2018 25% tariff on imported steel mill products.   Domestic steel producers and steel workers supported tariffs because they reduced competition from foreign entities. Opponents raised concerns with national security and downstream costs to manufacturers using steel as an unput to production. 

The case encourages reflection on the benefits and challenges of an import tariff to the United States economy. Using economic data, students are asked to quantify the welfare impact of the tariffs from both the economic efficiency and political economy dimensions.