Executive Order Extends Buy American Preferences to Infrastructure Projects

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): President Donald Trump on Jan. 31 signed an executive order aimed at increasing the use of American-produced steel and other raw materials.

The order extends “Buy American Principles” to certain federally funded infrastructure programs. It directs agencies to “encourage recipients of new Federal financial assistance awards pursuant to a covered program to use, to the greatest extent practicable, iron and aluminum as well as steel, cement, and other manufactured products produced in the United States in every contract, subcontract, purchase order, or sub award that is chargeable against such Federal financial assistance award.”

On April 18, 2017, Trump issued an executive order stating that “It shall be the policy of the executive branch to buy American and hire American” and outlining steps to implement that policy.

Trump campaigned on an America first platform that, in office, has led to procurement preferences for U.S. companies and trade protection for the steel industry and others.

Courtesy: AIIS