August 2025 Volume 7

MEMBERS SPEAK

LET’S KEEP NORTH AMERICAN FORGING STRONG AND COMPETITIVE By Bret Halley

A s someone who’s spent decades in the forging industry, I know firsthand how vital our work is—not only to the economy but also to national security. The strength of the North American forging supply chain underpins critical sectors from defense and aerospace to transportation and energy. That’s why today, I’m speaking not just as an individual company leader, but as part of a collective voice calling for action to ensure our industry remains strong, competitive, and secure. North American forgers—across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico—are world leaders in innovation, quality, and workforce development. Yet despite our investments, we’re being challenged daily by a wave of imported forgings made from foreign steel that’s not held to the same standards we uphold here at home. The truth is: we’re not on a level playing field. If we don’t act together to protect against dumping and unfair trade policies to strengthen the forging industry, we risk losing critical capacity that cannot be easily rebuilt. Why This Matters Now There’s a timely opportunity on the horizon that could help reinforce fair trade practices and protect the forging sector. From September 1–14, 2025, the U.S. Department of Commerce will open a Section 232 Derivative Window for steel and aluminum products. During this limited two-week period, companies can request that additional forged products be included under the existing Section 232 tariff coverage. If approved, these products would be subject to a 50% tariff on the steel or aluminum value content, with the rest of the product value taxed at the standard reciprocal country-specific rate (typically 10%, but could be more). These measures are designed to preserve the integrity of the domestic supply chain and protect the national security. At the same time, the FIA Board of Directors and Public Policy Committee are actively evaluating potential legal and policy strategies to address unfair trade practices in forgings—this includes exploring the possibility of filing a formal Section 232 petition to address imported forgings standalone and to support the forging industry as essential to U.S. national and economic security. This potential trade action would recognize the full integration of North American forgings and the need for a “fortress North America” approach to remedy imports of steel forgings that are not melted and poured in North America. These are complex and consequential decisions, and FIA is committed to representing the best interests of the North American forging supply chain.

What We Can Do It’s time for our industry to speak with one voice—to policymakers, customers, and each other. We must: • Educate stakeholders that North American forging is essential to national security. • Participate in trade processes that can bring fairness and enforcement to global markets, making North American forgers more competitive. • Advocate for policies that support domestic manufacturing, including steel forging using North American melted and poured steel. • Encourage young talent to see forging as a viable, innovative, and essential career path. • Work together—across companies, regions, and borders—to ensure trade is fair so we don’t just survive, but thrive. FIA is available to support that effort. If your company is considering submitting a product for the upcoming September Derivative Window, or if you want to better understand the potential impact of a trade case or how to get involved, please don’t hesitate to reach out to FIA Government Affairs Director, Laura Johnson at laura@forging.org. Our Future Depends on It The forging industry has deep roots in North America—and we’ve built our legacy on precision, strength, and resilience. But if we don’t work together to protect it, we may lose more than just market share. We risk weakening the very foundation of our North American Industrial base and national strengths. Now is not the time to be passive. Now is the time to lead. Let’s keep North American forging strong—for our businesses, our workers, and the generations that follow. Bret Halley COO, Valley Forge & Bolt Mfg. Co. FIA Board Member FIA Public Policy Committee Member Phone: 480-213-5723 Email: bhalley@vfbolts.com

FIA MAGAZINE | AUGUST 2025 74