Question

Suppose there is a policy debate regarding the United States’ imposing trade restrictions on imported steel rods:

A senator from a state with several steel-rod factories argues that the government should impose a tariff on steel rods because they are a necessary input into the production of various weapons. Free trade would make the United States overly dependent on foreign countries for the supply of steel rods. In case of a war, the United States might not be able to make or purchase enough steel rods and, therefore, would not be able to make enough weapons to defend itself.

Which of the following justifications is the senator using to argue for the trade restriction on steel rods?

- Infant-industry argument

- Unfair-competition argument

- National-security argument

- Jobs argument

- Using-protection-as-a-bargaining-chip argument

Answer 1

National-security argument

Step-by-step explanation:

The United States imposing the trade restrictions on the steel rods because they are considering the national security argument. United states wants to improve the domestic production of steel rods. When there is no restrictions on the trade of steel rods then this will make the U.S. overdependent on the other countries.

So, they consider the situation of war in which there is a need of many weapons to defend. For making these weapons, there is a need of steel rods.

Therefore, the U.S. wants to become self dependent for steel rods.