Steel coils sit on wagons when leaving the thyssenkrupp steel factory in Duisburg, Germany, on March 2. U.S. President Donald Trump risks sparking a trade war with his closest allies if he goes ahead with plans to impose steep tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, German officials and industry groups warned.
Steel coils sit on wagons when leaving the thyssenkrupp steel factory in Duisburg, Germany, on March 2. U.S. President Donald Trump risks sparking a trade war with his closest allies if he goes ahead with plans to impose steep tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, German officials and industry groups warned. Credit: AP

In a Bloomberg View column on March 7, Noah Smith said, “Since 1990, production of metals in the U.S. has held roughly constant, but the number of people employed in the industry has fallen steadily.”

Our ruling

Smith wrote, “Since 1990, production of metals in the U.S. has held roughly constant, but the number of people employed in the industry has fallen steadily.”

His numbers are solid, and experts agree that automation has done significant harm to employment levels in the metal industry.

We rate the statement True.

To read the full fact check, visit politifact.com.