Crucible Industries is a Central New York-based steel company.

President John Shiesley said because the company makes highly specialized products, it competes directly with Chinese companies less than other upstate mills but the country is a concern nonetheless.

"China has become a very big producer of steel and their excess capacity has driven down a lot of the pricing in the marketplace," Shiesley said.

In order to try to curb China from undercutting American companies, President Biden is asking his trade representative to seek to triple tariffs on steel and aluminum produced there. Under the proposal he announced Wednesday in Pittsburgh at the United Steelworkers union headquarters, the rate could go from 7.5% to 22.5%.

"I'm not look for a fight with China. I'm looking for competition and fair competition," Biden said.

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY, supports higher tariffs in general and believes legacy manufacturing regions in Pennsylvania, Ohio and upstate New York will benefit.

"The president's announcement today is a welcome step to getting Amercian steel and aluminum businesses back on a level playing field with China," Schumer said. "I can assure you, Mr. President, there's no shortage of American businesses ready to step up and compete in the global market."

Shiesley said American companies are at other disadvantages.

"Our initial reaction is good because they (China) unfairly trade materials but the tariffs would be nicer if they'd actually help us reinvest," he said.

He said the government should reconsider new energy policies that are untenable for the industry, take any additional revenue from the tariffs and use it on workforce development and even provide loans.

"Our costs have gone up 40% or 50% in the last two or three years and we need help to help us reinvest and just give us some reasonable 2%, 3% loans and we would put tens of millions of dollars to work that would add jobs, make us more productive, make us better in the world economy," Shiesley said.

The industry veteran also pointed out if the price of steel and aluminum goes up, that means the products that utilize it cost more to make and China could undercut American industries there instead. He believes tariffs should be on all metal products, not just the raw materials.