Novelis seeks tariff exclusions on its aluminium product imports from Canada for its Oswego plant

Novelis says US aluminium tariffs on Canada are hurting downstream companies like Novelis in Oswego. The companies including Novelis are paying tariffs to import aluminium from Kingston, Ontario. Novelis has sought exclusions from the federal government on some of their imported aluminium products.

Novelis produces about 454,000 tonnes of rolled aluminium products per year in its Oswego facility for the automotive, building and beverage can industries. Oswego Plant Manager Kevin Shutt said that they procure their raw materials from a plant in Kingston.

“It really put a hurt on us, the tariffs, making it very difficult for us to ship back and forth across the border," Shutt said. "And that was just a normal part of business for us.”

Trump administration implemented an umbrella tariff of 25% and 10% on imported steel and aluminium from all countries which ruined the trade relationship with its close trade partners like Canada and Mexico while China remained almost unaffected.

Senator Charles Schumer stood against going after Canada and Mexico over tariff issues. He considered them as good trading partners that actually create jobs. Novelis employs more than a thousand people in Oswego and contributes to its economy.

“It’s really important," the Oswego County Legislator Shane Broadwell said. "Anything we can do like this to support the senator’s initiative with the tariffs; just to continue the wind under the sails for Novelis, for the future and help protect the growth that they’ve had. Their employees, their families are so deep and intertwined in our community.”

Novelis has won tariff exclusions for a majority of products from a list of nearly 900 products imported from Canada. However, Schumer is urging the Department of Commerce and Customs and Border Protection to review the remaining 250 requests and grant exclusions for the interest of the Oswego community.