Crush the Can Tax

Cleveland-Cliffs wants higher profits at the expense of everyday consumers.

One steelmaker in Ohio — Cleveland-Cliffs — has petitioned the federal government to impose tariffs of up to 300% on tinplate products from eight countries. Tinplate steel is used in all kinds of cans and containers, for everything from soup, canned vegetables, and tuna to household cleaners and bug spray. American manufacturers import tons of tinplate steel every month.

This "Can Tax" is great for Cleveland-Cliffs – guaranteeing its own profitability. But who will pay the price? You will. And so will 130 million American households. Cleveland-Cliffs' action will raise the price of the canned goods we use every day and the canned food many rely on to feed their families by up to 58 cents per product. The average American household has about 24 canned goods stocked in the pantry at any given time. Nine in 10 parents say they use at least some canned items to feed their families each week.

The "Can Tax" will jeopardize American jobs, too. The tariffs will put severe strain on U.S. manufacturers — meaning up to 40,000 jobs could be on the chopping block if Cleveland-Cliffs gets its way.

There is no reason to justify these tariffs beyond Cleveland-Cliffs' greed. This summer, the Department of Commerce released a preliminary determination regarding the tariffs — and their analysis correctly shows that there is no merit to Cleveland-Cliffs' claims that these countries are "dumping" less-than fair-market-value steel in the U.S.

Don't let this $10 billion mining and steel production conglomerate make one cent off of you or threaten US manufacturing jobs.

Call Cleveland-Cliffs and tell them you won't pay their Can Tax: (216) 694-5700

Contact the Dept. of Commerce and tell them you won't pay the Cleveland-Cliffs Can Tax:
(202) 482-2000

Contact your representative and tell them to oppose the Cleveland-Cliffs Can Tax:
(202) 224-3121

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Facts About
the Tax

IT IMPACTS THE MOST VULNERABLE

Higher prices for canned goods would be an especially big burden for those struggling to make ends meet. The 42 million Americans enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, are already facing up to hundreds of dollars a month in cuts to their benefits as increases put in place during the pandemic expire.

IT LEADS TO JOB LOSSES

The Can Tax will lead to job losses in the canning and consumer products industry as companies struggle to remain competitive with the increased production costs. This could have serious consequences for the economy, especially in regions where canning and consumer products industries are significant employers.

IT LEADS TO FOOD BANK BANKRUPTCY

Food banks rely on donations of canned goods to help those in need. As the Can Tax drives up prices, food donations will slow, hurting the 53 million Americans who depend on help from food banks.

IT'S A SHORT SIGHTED ‘SOLUTION’

The Can Tax is an ill-advised policy that will have adverse effects on consumers, the canning and consumer products industries, and the economy.

IT HIJACKS POLICIES DESIGNED TO PROTECT MANUFACTURERS

Cleveland-Cliffs enjoyed cushy profits during the pandemic. When margins started to sag, it turned to this petition, asking the government for an unfair advantage rather than compete on a level playing field. This action will push domestic manufacturers across the U.S. to the breaking point, imperiling other businesses and causing a cascade of job losses because of rising costs.

References

Federal Officials Must Steel Themselves Against Tariff Proposal

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Ensuring America’s Trade Policies Don’t Harm American Consumers and Job Creators

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Always in the pantry: Soups, tuna, tomatoes among the top-selling canned foods in America

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