Tariffs, Steel, and the Hidden Cost of ‘Winning

LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/watchdog-on-wall-street-with-chris-markowski/id570687608 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PtgPvJvqc2gkpGIkNMR5i WATCH and SUBSCRIBE on:https://www.youtube.com/@WatchdogOnWallstreet/featured  He breaks down why headline wins—like the U.S. producing more steel than Japan—don’t tell the full story. Tariffs may protect domestic producers, but they also drive up input costs across the economy. When foreign steel and aluminum get more expensive, U.S. producers raise prices too—because they can.The result? American manufacturers face soaring input costs, with aluminum prices in the U.S. nearly double those in Europe or Japan. That disadvantage gets passed straight into finished goods, making U.S. products less competitive globally.Meanwhile, tariffs have quietly become a goldmine for lobbyists. With hundreds of selective exemptions and a massive surge in tariff-related lobbying revenue, big corporations can buy workarounds—while small businesses eat the costs. It’s a reminder that in Washington, the business of government is always booming.