Marketplace What if Trump does roll back steel and aluminum tariffs?
4 snips
Feb 16, 2026 
Dina Shanker, a journalist who covers restaurant trends and GLP-1 impacts, and Marketplace reporters Justin Ho, Kaylee Wells, and Sarah Leeson, who analyze manufacturing, tariffs, and Fed operations. They explore a possible rollback of steel and aluminum tariffs and what that could mean for appliance and car costs. They also discuss rising manufacturing activity and how restaurants are adapting menus for GLP-1 users.
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Manufacturing Gains Face Lagging Jobs
- Manufacturing demand shows signs of picking up in 2026 due to favorable taxes, potential rate stabilization, and AI investment.
- Despite rising new orders, employment may lag as firms use existing capacity before hiring.
Tariff Uncertainty Freezes Hiring
- Tariff uncertainty keeps manufacturers from hiring even when orders pick up.
- Susan Spence says firms delay permanent decisions like hiring until trade policy stabilizes.
Metal Tariff Rollback Has Broad Reach
- Rolling back steel and aluminum tariffs would touch many products because these metals sit throughout supply chains.
- Kimberly Clausing and Philip Luck say the direct consumer price impact would be modest but wide-reaching across goods and shipping.