4 ms·
The government is forced to sell steel at a loss, because all the buyers for whom this is a such a vital supply would otherwise buy cheaper imported steel, ever
by mr_toad 3mo ago
The government is forced to sell steel at a loss, because all the buyers for whom this is a such a vital supply would otherwise buy cheaper imported steel, every single one of them.
And ultimately all the ore and coke used to make the steel are imported anyway.
- p_l 3mo agoUntil something happens that disrupts the supply chains from abroad and suddenly there's an issue
- jarym 3mo ago2 things: a) Government plays a part in the cost of things - especially years of mis-investment around energy generation has sent British prices to the stratosphere and employment taxation levels greater than those 'cheaper' producers. b) The 'cheaper' producers are still _producers_ and thus have control - if they need to hoard their own supply they will, or if they need to leverage it for some political gain they might.
- patall 3mo agoThe same is, as far as I can grasp it, true for butter, bread, milk and eggs. Only there, it is already established.
- 10000truths 3mo agoIsn't this exactly the kind of problem that tariffs are meant to address?