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Brown Supports Trump's Tariffs On Steel, Aluminum

President Donald Trump has found an unlikely supporter in his contentious effort to raise tariffs on imported steel - that supporter is Ohio’s top ranking Democrat. 

Democratic U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown says raising the tariffs on imported steel means stiffening trade regulations.

Brown believes President Trump’s order will help stabilize steel jobs in Ohio and appreciates the decisive action.

“We so often when we enforce trade rules it takes so long and the process is so arduous that so many jobs are lost and so many small businesses go out of business in the process,” said Brown.

But Republican U.S. Senator Rob Portman says addressing the overcapacity of steel needs a more targeted approach. And some experts noted there are far more Ohio workers in industries that use steel and aluminum than workers who make those materials.

Copyright 2018 The Statehouse News Bureau

Andy Chow is a general assignment state government reporter who focuses on environmental, energy, agriculture, and education-related issues. He started his journalism career as an associate producer with ABC 6/FOX 28 in Columbus before becoming a producer with WBNS 10TV.