“This is the historic dawn of a new Middle East,” President Donald Trump declared in his speech to Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, after securing a historic Middle East peace deal. As Trump works to promote “peace through strength” in the Middle East and around the globe, our president is also working to ensure that we can produce critical materials needed for U.S. national security purposes, right here at home. 

Trump’s 50 percent tariffs on steel and aluminum are allowing us to rebuild domestic industries while foreign countries like Canada unfairly subsidize their domestic industries, which kills off American manufacturing jobs.

Having served my country in uniform for 22 years and then continuing my oath of service in the United States Congress, I firmly believe that we must manufacture critical metals like aluminum and steel here at home for national security purposes. 

Aluminum is a critical component of fighter jets, tanks and body armor used by our patriots who keep America safe. During my time in Congress, it became clear to me that foreign countries were taking advantage of us when it comes to trade policy.

To stop the cheating, Trump imposed Section 232 tariffs on foreign aluminum and steel imports during his first term in office. But after the 2020 election, Canadian aluminum imports skyrocketed under President Joe Biden, and U.S. primary aluminum production experienced an alarming 30 percent decline. 

As a direct consequence of Biden’s failed policies, three U.S. aluminum smelters were forced to shut down. In Missouri, Kentucky and Washington, more than 1,700 American aluminum workers lost their jobs, which decimated communities across America’s heartland. With U.S. smelters closed, globalist aluminum producers expanded their operations in Canada. Shockingly, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development found in an independent report that Canada’s aluminum industry is propped up by more than $850 million in government subsidies.

Following his historic reelection, President Donald J. Trump reinstated the aluminum tariff on foreign countries that cheat and raised it to 50 percent in June 2025 to stop the bleeding. As the Canadian government seeks a tariff exemption once again, history shows us that their request must be denied unless we want another flood of Canadian aluminum killing off the rest of America’s aluminum industry. The U.S., which had 23 aluminum smelters in 2000, has only four smelters today. Canada conveniently maintained its 10 smelters throughout this duration of time due to their tremendous amount of government subsidies that do America harm.

As the globalists wage war on Trump’s aluminum and steel tariffs, an economic commentator piled on last week, asserting that Trump was going to kill off the construction of a $4.1 billion new U.S. aluminum plant in Alabama. This is false. That manufacturer came out to set the record straight, publicly stating that they were “100 percent committed to bringing this plant online.” The company confirmed plans to create 1,000 jobs and is strongly considering the addition of a second phase to the new aluminum plant, “based on current expected long-term market growth in the United States for aluminum.” With aluminum companies doubling down on U.S. investments, it’s clear that Trump’s Section 232 tariffs are working.

In Oklahoma, Emirates Global Aluminum revealed plans to build a new $4 billion aluminum smelter. Another U.S. producer, Century Aluminum, announced plans to build a multibillion-dollar investment that will create over 1,000 new full-time aluminum manufacturing jobs. An existing Century Aluminum smelter in South Carolina is also investing $50 million to expand capacity and create 100 new American aluminum jobs, a move that will boost U.S. aluminum production by 10 percent. In a few short months, Trump’s steel and aluminum tariffs, with no exceptions and no exemptions, are delivering huge results and bringing back tens of thousands of domestic manufacturing jobs.

After serving my country for 22 years and then fighting for America First values as a member of Congress, I can wholeheartedly attest to the importance of maintaining the 50 percent Section 232 tariffs on aluminum and steel with no special deals for foreign countries that have a record of hurting American manufacturing workers. One of the elements of our national power is a strong economy and manufacturing independence. During World War II we outproduced our enemies and were able to unleash the full military power of our nation.

Now is the time to return to American manufacturing independence. President Trump’s aluminum tariffs are a step in that direction. Our men and women who stand upon freedom’s rampart wear the American flag on their uniform. The tools by which they defend us should be American as well.

Lt. Col. Allen B. West served as a U.S. congressman for Florida’s 22nd District and a member of the House Armed Services Committee from 2011 through 2013. He is chairman of the Dallas GOP and previously served as chairman of the Texas Republican Party.