Leo Gerard, the president of the United Steelworkers of America, played a large role in persuading the Bush administration to stray from its free-trade position by investigating the effects of imports on the American steel industry. The investigation could lead to tariffs that would reduce steel imports and protect steel jobs. Critics charge Gerard with promoting protectionism and the Bush administration for bending towards Gerard to increase re-election chances.
See "Public Lives: Bringing a Workingman’s Perspective to a Union’s Helm", Steven Greenhouse, The New York Times, June 17, 2001