The US inflation rate is the highest since 1982. The consumer price index has risen 7% over the past year and has created a dire situation for consumers and businesses in our country.

Removing barriers to economic growth, such as Section 232 tariffs on aluminum and steel, could help boost our private sector and reduce costs for consumers. Due to Section 232, aluminum prices have skyrocketed since the tariff was implemented in 2018.

Expensive aluminum is impacting families across Pennsylvania. This increases the cost of building materials, but can also hurt breweries, soft drink companies, and the hospitality industry as a whole. Without the metal needed to make repairs, farmers cannot meet tight harvest deadlines, reducing their profitability and increasing the price of agricultural products. Consumers are bearing higher prices on essential goods as the private sector struggles to stay afloat.

Fortunately, US Senator Pat Toomey is working with US Senator Mark Warner to repeal Section 232. Their bill, The Bicameral Congressional Trade Authority Act, is a significant step in promoting free trade and combating harmful inflation of our country. This is the kind of smart policy that will help us recover from the past few years of economic hardship.

Josephine Ferro

East of Stroudsburg