Highlights:
Trump Signed An Executive Order Intended To Advance The Construction Of The Keystone XL Pipeline. According to the New York Daily News, “President Trump signed two executive actions Tuesday that will advance construction of the controversial Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines. […] Trump’s executive actions make good on campaign promises to help move the pipelines forward and adhere to his oft-stated desire to ease, or eliminate altogether, regulations, including ones pertaining to the environment, to help spur economic growth.” [New York Daily News, 1/24/17]
Trump Also Ordered The Commerce Department To Develop A Plan Requiring New Construction On Pipelines Within The U.S. To Use Steel And Iron Manufactured In The U.S. According to the White House Office of the Press Secretary, “The Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with all relevant executive departments and agencies, shall develop a plan under which all new pipelines, as well as retrofitted, repaired, or expanded pipelines, inside the borders of the United States, including portions of pipelines, use materials and equipment produced in the United States, to the maximum extent possible and to the extent permitted by law. […] ‘Produced in the United States’ shall mean:(i) With regard to iron or steel products, that all manufacturing processes for such iron or steel products, from the initial melting stage through the application of coatings, occurred in the United States.” [White House Office of the Press Secretary, 1/24/17]
Trump Said That The Companies Involved In Constructing The Keystone XL Pipeline Would “Have To Buy” Pipes Made From U.S. Steel. According to CNBC, “The Commerce Department has not yet issued a report on the requirement, but Trump on Thursday said the companies behind the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines would ‘have to buy’ pipes made from U.S. steel. […] ‘We put you heavy into the pipeline business because we approved, as you know, the Keystone pipeline and Dakota, but they have to buy, meaning steel, so I'll say U.S. steel, but steel made in this country and pipelines made in this country.’” [CNBC, 2/23/17]
A White House Spokeswoman Said The Keystone And Dakota Access Pipelines Would Not Have To Be Built With American Steel. According to the Associated Press, “The Keystone XL oil pipeline won’t use American steel in its construction, despite what President Donald Trump says. White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Friday that’s due to language in a presidential directive Trump issued in January. The directive applies to new pipelines or those under repair. Sanders said it would be hard to do an about-face on Keystone because it’s already under construction and the steel has been acquired. Trump said as recently as last week that Keystone and the Dakota Access pipeline must use American steel ‘or we’re not building one.’” [Associated Press, 3/4/17]