When Trump signed an executive order calling for the approval of the Keystone XL pipeline extension and the Dakota Access pipeline, he made a big deal out of both projects being built with American-made steel, but the Keystone pipeline will apparently be exempt.
“We put you heavy into the pipeline business because we approved, as you know, the Keystone Pipeline, but they have to buy ... steel made in this country and pipelines made in this country,” Trump told U.S. Steel Chief Executive Mario Longhi at a Feb. 23 meeting. [...]
By the White House’s judgment, that description would not include Keystone XL, which developer TransCanada first proposed in 2008.
“The Keystone XL Pipeline is currently in the process of being constructed, so it does not count as a new, retrofitted, repaired or expanded pipeline,” the White House spokeswoman said.
With a loophole as vague and open-ended as this, I'm sure it will not be applied to any project.
In fact, the industry is apparently counting on it not applying to them. Nothing Trump has signed is legally binding.
If Trump required pipeline companies to use U.S. steel like he falsely says he has, he'd face much opposition. https://t.co/0A2X6clebX pic.twitter.com/6t2PK1RV5c
— Amy Harder (@AmyAHarder) March 1, 2017
As I'm sure you recall, Trump has built most of his own buildings using Chinese-made steel.