Cleveland-Cliffs CEO on infrastructure bill
About Clifford Smith
Clifford Smith, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Cleveland-Cliffs, has been represented in public statements by the company's CEO, Lourenco Goncalves. In September 2021, Goncalves stated that the infrastructure bill was needed and that Cleveland-Cliffs would play a significant role as a producer of plate and flat rolled steel. He said the company was prepared to support infrastructure initiatives and could continue to grow its U.S. business in an environmentally friendly manner. Goncalves described the United States as the most environmentally compliant steel-producing country and argued that more steel should be produced domestically and less in China, which he said was responsible for a disproportionate share of global pollution. In June 2018, Goncalves discussed steel tariffs, stating they were needed to level the playing field against China, which he accused of creating an unfair trade environment through low wages, pollution, and subsidies. He said the U.S. had been producing less steel than it consumed for an extended period, unlike other developed nations. Goncalves acknowledged that tariffs could have collateral effects but argued the U.S. needed to produce its own steel to meet domestic demand. He also addressed Canadian steel production, stating that if steel was not produced in Canada, Cleveland-Cliffs would supply pellets to U.S. mills.