The United States Steel Industry After years of restructuring, an investment of approximately $50 billion in new plant and equipment, the application of world-class manufacturing technologies and increased labor productivity, the United States steel industry is among the most competitive in the world. With the application of advanced technology, automation has replaced the more labor intensive practices of the past, making the industry energy efficient and environmentally responsible. Despite the increased steel production within the United States, foreign imports of steel to the United States hit r