Uploaded on 2017-05-29 by Boston (by Nicholas Swedberg)

The attached image shows the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC, during construction. At this point in the building’s construction, the concrete cores and major steel structural elements were clearly visible. While the US has numerous steel production mills, it imports large quantities of steel. According to a 2016 report by the US Department of Commerce, the US was the world’s largest steel importer, importing steel from over 90 countries. Even if the steel shown in the photograph was processed at a US mill, it is likely that the finished pieces are at least partially composed from steel that originated outside the US. As discussed in the lectures and readings, the construction process in many countries is part of a globalized system of manufacturing, commerce, and trade. The US is no exception to this trend. In a globalized construction marketplace, goods and materials transit the globe. As evidenced by the US Department of Commerce report, despite the country’s manufacturing and material capabilities, a high volume of steel is imported from global sources. The US Department of Commerce Report can be found here: http://www.ita.doc.gov/steel/countries/pdfs/imports-us.pdf