OPINION:
Alex Krutz’s recent op-ed, “America is having a manufacturing renaissance” (Web, Jan. 5), highlights that the U.S. stands on the cusp of an economic boom. To get there, we must bolster domestic production of critical building materials, including cement.
Whether it’s constructing artificial intelligence data centers to lead the world in technology, liquefied natural gas terminals to export U.S. energy dominance or cutting-edge semiconductor fabrication plants to beat China, we can’t bring jobs and investment back to America without cement — a foundational building material for any type of construction.
Today, American cement production is in decline and 22% of the cement consumed in the U.S. comes from overseas, without origin, quality or safety certifications.
Foreign cement compromises the integrity of U.S. infrastructure and harms our economy. The U.S. cement and concrete industry contributes almost $160 billion annually and employs hundreds of thousands of Americans.
To usher in President Trump’s golden age of domestic manufacturing, help our economy prosper and construct world-class infrastructure, policymakers and regulators must address the threat posed by these foreign imports. They should start by expanding “Buy America” standards to include cement and requiring import transparency disclosures.
Let’s celebrate the 250th anniversary of our country by ensuring that U.S. roads, highways, bridges, homes and manufacturing plants are built with American-made materials.
STEVE CRIM
Annapolis, Maryland
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