Like us, you may also be concerned about the impact of the US aluminium and steel tariffs on cross-border trade dynamics. With numerous questions and uncertainties in mind, we reached out to Helin Öcal, Trade Manager, and Djibril René, Director of Industry & Market Intelligence at European Aluminium. They were patient in explaining the potential consequences of the 25 per cent tariffs while reassuring us that talks and negotiations would continue and solutions would likely emerge, as the aluminium industry cannot function without international supply chains. They also highlighted that new trade flow patterns would surface if the tariffs persist. It is now crucial to observe how governments and companies choose to respond.

Stay tuned to the full interview with Ms Öcal and Mr Djibril René to know their opinions on US tariffs.

AL Circle: What impact is anticipated on the European Union’s economy following the hefty 25 per cent tariffs imposed on its exports to the United States?

Helin Öcal & Djibril René: The EU and the US have built deeply intertwined aluminium supply chains over many years, creating strong partnerships. A 25 per cent tariff could weaken cross-border investments and reduce EU aluminium exports to the U.S.

We are also concerned that with aluminium scrap exempt from US tariffs, more EU scrap will flow to the US, further worsening the leakage problem for European producers.