Another ‘Buy American’ flap in the works? The conditions are aligning for one
WASHINGTON — An early irritant in Canada-U.S. relations in the Trump era could emerge in the massive infrastructure bill proposed by the president-elect, amid speculation in Washington that it might include a Buy American clause excluding foreign suppliers.
Donald Trump spoke passionately during the campaign that his proposed $1 trillion construction plan would ensure “American steel” got used to build “American” skyscrapers and bridges, with “American workers” hired to do the jobs.
Lawmakers who would write the bill have started speculating about its contents — with the Democrat running to become his party’s leader in the House of Representatives, Tim Ryan, among those urging domestic procurement: “Let’s have Buy American provisions in there, so it’s American-made steel and American-made concrete.”
It would be a repeat of a drawn-out drama seven years ago.