Why Are We Tariffing Steel but Importing Wolves? A Closer Look at Colorado's Contradiction

By Colorado Advocates for Smart Wolf Policy

The United States doesn’t need another lesson in the dangers of globalism, yet here we are. Under President Trump, America took bold and necessary steps to protect its workers and industries from unfair foreign competition. Tariffs on steel, aluminum, and other strategic imports sent a clear message: American jobs and security come first.

But in Colorado, that America First mindset seems to stop at the border—the northern border, to be exact. While Washington fought to prevent cheap foreign steel from flooding our markets, Colorado politicians invited apex predators from Canada to flood our wilderness. That’s right: wolves from British Columbia are being imported into Colorado, and the irony couldn’t be more striking.

Supporters of wolf reintroduction say they are "restoring balance" to our ecosystem. But ask the ranchers, hunters, and rural families bearing the brunt of this policy, and you’ll hear a different story. Livestock losses, stressed wildlife populations, and real threats to pets and even children are all part of the equation. Meanwhile, taxpayers are on the hook for expensive management programs and reimbursement funds.

This raises a bigger question: Why do we protect American industries from foreign dumping but allow foreign wildlife imports that directly threaten local livelihoods? President Trump’s tariffs were about more than economics—they were about fairness, sovereignty, and protecting American communities. Colorado’s wolf policy, on the other hand, feels like a top-down decision driven by ideological elites far removed from rural realities.

President Trump fought to protect steelworkers in Pueblo and Pittsburgh. Colorado should fight just as hard to protect ranchers in places like Steamboat Springs and Craig. It’s the same principle: when foreign imports—whether goods or predators—threaten American lives and livelihoods, our answer should be no.

This is not about opposing nature or conservation. It’s about common sense and consistency. If America First means prioritizing our workers and industries, Colorado First should mean safeguarding our communities and traditions from reckless foreign experiments.

It’s time to stop importing problems. Let’s start putting Colorado—and Colorado families—first.