There are many differences between American-made steel and imported steel.

As with many things we tend to generalize, the answer is a resounding “no!”

Steel, arguably the most important building material of the modern era, has been the subject of a dispute between the overall quality of American-made steel compared to imported steel (most of which comes from China).

Although industry experts say strides have been taken in recent years by the Chinese government to regulate quality, material factors such as poor inclusion control and heat treatment are among the biggest issues the construction industry has faced. The use of inferior material on many projects nationwide has far-reaching consequences (safety) that transcends economics.

Many factors define differences between the two. Among the most blatant is the amount of pollutants many Chinese steel production facilities emit into the atmosphere relative to their American counterparts. Environmental legislation exists for a reason, and U.S. steel manufacturers do their part for our planet and our nation.

The Coalition for Responsible Equitable Economic Development (CREED LA) proudly supports environmentally-responsible construction projects throughout Los Angeles that not only have a positive impact on the local community, but support LA’s working families as well.

CREED LA fights to ensure that developers pay fair wages to all the hard working construction professionals throughout the industry while simultaneously providing them with quality health care, continued training, and trustworthy retirement plans. To learn more about how our non-profit organization supports those building a better, greener world for us all, contact CREED LA at (877) 810-7473.