Prairie State Wire

Illinois was once one of the greatest industrial powerhouses in the world. From Chicago’s steel mills to the factories of Rockford and Peoria, our state has fueled American manufacturing for generations. But globalism, bad trade deals, and weak leadership have eroded our industrial strength.

Nippon Steel’s decision to keep all domestically produced steel in America is the exact kind of shift we need to rebuild our state’s economy. This is about securing our future—eliminating reliance on hostile foreign suppliers, stabilizing steel costs, and ensuring that American companies have the resources they need to thrive.

For decades, foreign nations have been engaged in economic sabotage against American industry. China, in particular, has used predatory pricing to destroy domestic steel production. They dump low-cost, low-quality steel into our markets, bankrupting our mills, and then controlling supply once our own production capabilities are gone.

This is economic warfare, and for too long, our leaders have surrendered instead of fighting back. Keeping American steel in America is how we take back control of our industrial base. It means Illinois manufacturers get the materials they need at predictable prices. It means our workers have stable jobs instead of being outsourced to foreign nations that exploit cheap labor.

This is not about economics alone—it is about national security, economic independence, and the long-term survival of our manufacturing sector.

Illinois has the opportunity to reclaim its industrial dominance, but only if we support policies that put America first.

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Beni Harmony is a news anchor at NewsChannel 20.