Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump have found a sliver of common ground: They don’t like the idea of a Japanese company, Nippon, buying U.S. Steel.
But now they’re running up against opposition from free trade experts, economists and local leaders in western Pennsylvania from both parties who say the party leaders are prioritizing an election year over the deal.
“These are people that are trying to put their finger in the air and weigh which way the wind is blowing, from an electoral perspective, and taking their positions,” said Sam DeMarco, an Allegheny County Council member and chair of the county GOP. “And I think that’s why you see a huge divide between folks locally who support the deal, because they understand what it means to the area, and national politicians.”