WASHINGTON, D.C., April 16, 2026 — Common Sense America (CSA) President and Founder Steve Crim submitted a letter to United States Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer commending his Section 301 investigations into the excess production of cement by specific foreign nations.
“I applaud the Office of the United States Trade Representative’s (USTR) timely decision to initiate Section 301 investigations into harmful foreign manufacturing policies and practices,” wrote Crim. “President Trump’s historic trade actions send a clear message—the U.S. is done apologizing for taking the steps necessary to fortify and expand America’s manufacturing industry.”
The letter urged USTR to continue this historic crackdown on unfair foreign manufacturing practices, arguing that predatory trade in the cement sector threatens American national security.
“The current supply chain threat is driven by the persistent overproduction and oversupply of cement from Indonesia, Vietnam, and Bangladesh, which severely undermines U.S. industrial capacity. There is substantial evidence that these nations are intervening in markets by maintaining production levels that far exceed domestic demand,” Crim continued. “This excess material is subsequently dumped into foreign markets, including the U.S., eroding the autonomy of our own cement producers and harming America’s workforce. If we lose the ability to secure a supply of high-quality, American-made cement, our national security will be fundamentally compromised.”
The letter called for similar investigations into additional countries, outlining cases against Egypt, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Turkey. American Foundations simultaneously released a detailed fact sheet on Turkey, with additional reports on Egypt and the UAE planned for the coming weeks.
“While we applaud USTR’s focus on its current investigations, it must also remain vigilant about emerging threats posed by countries such as Turkey, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates. In addition to taking strong enforcement action against the countries currently under investigation, we urge you to open new investigations into these nations based on their use of anticompetitive tactics to unfairly advantage their domestic cement industries at the expense of American workers and consumers.”
The letter closed with further recommendations to shore up U.S. national security.
“Additionally, the U.S. must consider implementing Buy America requirements for cement, consistent with iron and steel. National security starts with strong foundations, and that means ensuring every bag of cement used in our public works is manufactured right here at home,” Crim concluded.
See here for the full letter.
About American Foundations
American Foundations, a project of Common Sense America, is committed to ensuring that our nation’s infrastructure is built on strong, reliable cement — made right here at home. Learn more at: strongamericanfoundations.org.