Aluminum Association and AEC appreciate Biden’s move to impose a 10% tariff on Chinese aluminium arriving via Mexico

In addition to Century Aluminum, many US-based aluminium associations have also applauded the President’s decision to impose an additional 10 per cent tariff on aluminium imports in coordination with Mexico.

This strategic move by US President Joe Biden is to check the means of escaping the tariff levied on aluminium imports from China, Iran, Russia, and Belarus. To avoid paying the US tariff, these countries were transshipping their aluminium products through Mexico. Thus, the US administration has implemented an additional 10 per cent tariff on primary aluminium products smelted or cast in China, Iran, Russia, and Belarus and arriving via Mexico.

The Aluminum Association said this move was important to combat the impact of unfairly trade that had been in practice across North America.

Charles Johnson, president & CEO of the Aluminum Association, asserted: “Today’s announcement will help to safeguard North America as one of the best places in the world to make aluminum and aluminum products. Over the last decade, the industry has invested more than $10 billion in new and expanded plants in the United States, including nearly $200 million this year alone. North American aluminum firms enjoy several major structural advantages including some of the lowest carbon aluminum production in the world. By working with our fellow USMCA countries on strong trade enforcement, we can help drive continued growth and investment in the region – creating jobs and capturing increased demand expected in the coming years. This plan is an example of how regional cooperation still works. We appreciate the administration’s hard work on this issue and look forward to working with them on a robust implementation plan.”

The Aluminum Extruders Council (AEC) also welcomed Biden’s strategic initiative to rule out China and other nations’ aluminium imports via Mexico.

Jeff Henderson, AEC President, said: “The AEC thanks the Biden Administration for its support of the industry. This is a good initial step by the Administration to address the unfair trade taking place, on the road to an overall North America smelted and cast requirement in USMCA.”

Jason Weber, AEC Vice President of Operations and Government Affairs, commented: “The AEC and its members look forward to continuing our work with the administration on matters of fair trade. The smelted and cast requirement negotiated here as part of the 232 program recognizes the inherent unfair trade taking place when our trading partners can process highly distorted and subsidized metal from countries like China and Russia, and the adverse effects it has on the U.S. aluminum extrusion industry.”