WASHINGTON, D.C., March 12, 2026 — Common Sense America (CSA) President and Founder Steve Crim issued a statement following United States Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer’s announcement of investigations under Section 301(b) of the Trade Act of 1974, including into the excess production of cement.
“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.”
“U.S. markets are being manipulated by the excess production of key inputs like cement from Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Vietnam, reducing the autonomy of our manufacturing industry and harming American workers. Domestic cement production is in decline. If we lose the ability to guarantee a supply of high-quality, American-made cement for building critical infrastructure, our national security is compromised.
“We must leverage the momentum from these investigations to champion policies that protect Americans—starting with recognizing cement as a critical national security resource and expanding ‘Buy America’ standards to include cement. We hope the USTR investigations will expose how countries like China and Vietnam are undermining American manufacturing and hurting American jobs and spark additional investigations into other countries like Egypt, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates, that conduct similar practices.”
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.