CONTACT: Wayne Ranick, 412-562-2444, wranick@usw.org
(Pittsburgh) -- The following statement was released today by United Steelworkers (USW) International President Leo W. Gerard after President-elect Donald J. Trump announced the appointment of Dr. Peter Navarro to head the White House National Trade Council:
"The new White House Trade Council is a welcome change as it elevates manufacturing and trade policy. Past treatment as totally separate issues ignored the critical role of trade policy in the vitality of the nation’s manufacturing sector. This has undermined domestic production for far too long. And, manufacturing deserves special focus because of its importance to our nation's economy and security.
Repositioning trade policy with an eye toward strengthening domestic manufacturing will promote the nation’s domestic production to a position that reflects its importance to the American economy. In the past, trade has been used as a foreign policy tool by the National Security Council rather than a tool to promote domestic production and job creation. The manufacturing sector paid the price. Now, we must develop policies that embolden the new structure."
The USW represents 850,000 workers in North America employed in many industries, including metals, rubber, chemicals, paper, oil refining, mining and the service and public sectors. For more information: http://www.usw.org/.