KH, a metals supplier from Pennsylvania, said, “We are not happy with President Trump’s announcement last week on a broad-brush tariff on steel. We don’t deal in aluminum, but I’m sure it’s the same as steel. We sell mainly stainless steel and ni-based alloys; our customer who are the manufacturers are not happy with the ruling. Their fear is that finished product will be made off shore and brought into the country.
“We have many customers in the fastener industry and others who make cold heading wire, bars, spring wire, wire mesh, wire screens, welding wire, and electrodes; they are all concerned about these steel tariffs. We are looking into the process of filing for exclusions.”
RP, a custom fabricator from Georgia, said, “Very concerned on how it will change our materials pricing and availability. We use black steel, aluminum, and stainless of all grades and in all sizes. If this causes our suppliers to have troubles in obtaining materials, or the quality goes downhill, it will greatly affect our business. And of course, higher prices will drive our customers to “off the shelf” alternatives instead of the custom solutions we offer.”