Sen. Bob Casey Robert (Bob) Patrick CaseySecond GOP senator to quarantine after exposure to coronavirus GAO report finds brokers offered false info on coverage for pre-existing conditions Catholic group launches .7M campaign against Biden targeting swing-state voters MORE Jr. (D-Pa.) on Thursday praised President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden leads Trump by 36 points nationally among Latinos: poll Trump dismisses climate change role in fires, says Newsom needs to manage forest better Jimmy Kimmel hits Trump for rallies while hosting Emmy Awards MORE for announcing plans to impose steep tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, saying it will help Pennsylvania workers.

“It has taken the Administration far too long, but today’s announcement of an intention to act next week is a welcome step,” Casey tweeted.

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“When countries cheat on trade, Pennsylvania workers lose. I urge the Administration to follow through and to take aggressive measures to ensure our workers can compete on a level playing field,” he continued.

I have repeatedly called on this and previous Administrations to aggressively enforce our trade laws. For years, foreign countries have been dumping steel into our markets and costing our workers their jobs and suppressing their wages. — Senator Bob Casey (@SenBobCasey) March 1, 2018

When countries cheat on trade, Pennsylvania workers lose. I urge the Administration to follow through and to take aggressive measures to ensure our workers can compete on a level playing field. — Senator Bob Casey (@SenBobCasey) March 1, 2018

Trump said earlier Thursday that he will announce next week tariffs of 25 percent on imported steel and 10 percent on aluminum. He framed the move as an effort to protect U.S. workers from foreign competition and to boost domestic production.

Casey is up for reelection in November in a state Trump narrowly won in 2016. The Cook Political Report, a nonpartisan election handicapper, rates his seat as likely to remain Democratic.

Casey was one of just a few lawmakers to praise Trump’s decision, with Republicans largely criticizing the announcement.

Casey's fellow Pennsylvania senator Pat Toomey Patrick (Pat) Joseph ToomeyAppeals court rules NSA's bulk phone data collection illegal Dunford withdraws from consideration to chair coronavirus oversight panel GOP senators push for quick, partial reopening of economy MORE (R) said raising tariffs would be “very bad for consumers” and would “destroy more jobs than it saves in steel.”

Sen. Ben Sasse Benjamin (Ben) Eric SasseChamber of Commerce endorses McSally for reelection Ben Sasse is mistaken with idea for the election of senators in America Big Ten football to return in October MORE (R-Neb.) ripped the announcement, saying Trump is essentially proposing “a massive tax increase on American families.”