A suburb of Steubenville where I was born in 1939, and graduated from high school in 1957.

GOP Rep.: Ohio's Steel Mills Are Thriving Thanks to Trump's Tariffs | Opinion
Published May 08, 2025 at 5:00 AM EDT

The steel mills of Ohio's 6th Congressional District were once the heartbeat of America—until hyperglobalism ripped them apart. Towns like Youngstown and Mingo Junction, proud and prosperous, became ghost towns of shuttered factories and broken dreams. For decades, elites from Washington to Wall Street sold out our workers with one-sided trade deals, leaving families to fend for themselves. Then came Donald Trump. His America First agenda didn't just talk about forgotten Americans—it fought for them. Today, mills like JSW Steel USA in Mingo Junction are roaring back to life, powered by Trump's tariffs and a renewed belief in the American Dream.

For generations, these towns in the Ohio River Valley were the backbone of American industry. In 1949, Youngstown ranked among the nation's wealthiest cities, its steel mills and factories like General Motors employed thousands. Immigrants from Eastern Europe, Ireland, and Italy—lifelong Democrats—built tight-knit communities united by work, faith, and family. But starting in the late 20th century, something went wrong. Free-trade policies, championed by both parties, sent jobs overseas. Factories closed, storefronts boarded up, and promises to workers were broken. Democrats abandoned labor for coastal elites and globalist priorities. Republicans clung to outdated free-market dogmas. The people of OH-06 were left behind.

President Trump changed that. His tariffs aren't about starting trade wars—they're about ending the one-sided surrender that gutted our manufacturing base. For decades, China dumped cheap, subsidized steel into our markets, and Europe taxed American cars while flooding our shelves with their goods. That's not free trade—it's unfair trade. Trump's policies level the playing field, standing up to bad actors who've exploited our openness. The results are undeniable. JSW Steel USA, ne
stled along the Ohio River, is thriving once again. Its CEO credits Trump's reciprocal tariffs for enabling hundreds of millions in upgrades, with plans for expansion and new hires. This isn't just a factory—it's a lifeline, restoring dignity, paychecks, and hope to families who never gave up on their hometown.

Tariffs aren't a silver bullet, and supporting them hasn't always been easy. Establishment Republicans, wedded to a bygone era, hesitated. But here in OH-06, we know the cost of inaction: more closures and more hollowed-out towns. Tariffs have long been a cornerstone of American economic strategy.
Alexander Hamilton, one of our great Founding Fathers, championed this approach, even coining it the "American School" of economic thought. For decades it protected domestic industries from foreign manipulation. Trump's policies empower businesses to invest, hire, and compete, reminding the world that trade must be fair—not a one-way street benefiting Beijing at the expense of the Ohio River Valley.

This is about more than economics—it's about restoring the American Dream. Factories are humming again in towns once written off. Ford has voiced support for Trump's trade policies, recognizing their role in boosting domestic production. For the first time in years, young people in Steubenville and East Liverpool see a future at home.
Politically, the shift is clear. Ohio, once a purple state, turned decisively red in 2020, with Trump carrying OH-06 by a landslide. Working-class voters, once union Democrats, now pack Trump rallies. They're not looking for handouts—just a fair shot. They've had enough of a Democrat Party more focused on global summits than Main Street here at home.

I've walked the factory floor at JSW, looked workers in the eye, and seen their pride in making something American. Critics warn of short-term price hikes, but I think of the long-term costs of doing nothing—more broken families, more lost towns. The people of OH-06 get it. They see President Trump's roadmap for lasting gain, because they believe in their work, their communities, their president, and their country.

As a congressman, I'm fighting for policies that put American workers first, rebuild our industrial base, and restore pride to forgotten towns. Trump's tariffs are more than a tool—they're a symbol of renewal. Together, we'll ensure places like Youngstown and Mingo Junction aren't relics of decline, but beacons of the classic American comeback.

Mike Rulli represents Ohio's 6th Congressional District.

The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.