Aluminum Association seeks certainty on tariffs

In the wake of another week of tariff announcements and changes to previous policies, the CEO of the Virginia-based Aluminum Association has issued a statement saying continued access to a reliable and affordable metal supply from Canada is in the best interest of United States aluminum producers and consumers.

In his March 12 statement responding to the U.S. enactment of a 25 percent tariff on inbound aluminum, association president and CEO Charles Johnson remarks “The aluminum industry supports tariff-free access for Canadian aluminum in the tariffs implemented today.”

A press release containing Johnson’s statement refers to a late February article Johnson posted to LinkedIn that spells out reasons why the trade group thinks punitive tariffs on Canadian aluminum are not in the best interest of the U.S. economy.

“America needs aluminum,” says the association, adding, “Today, the U.S. is investing significantly and will need both smelted and recycled aluminum to meet growing demand. In the years if not decades it will take to build new U.S. smelter capacity, our metal needs must be met by importing.”

Continues the Aluminum Association, “The industry’s decades-long trading relationship with Canada is a good deal for America. The aluminum we import from Canada today is equivalent to the energy generated by at least four Hoover Dams. And just one Canadian smelter job supports about 13 U.S. aluminum jobs further downstream.”

Remarks Johnson on March 12, “President [Donald J.] Trump’s administration is aggressively pursuing multiple tariff initiatives on behalf of the broader U.S. economy. The U.S. aluminum industry needs certainty in this tariff landscape to support our growth and investment. Today’s action closes loopholes in existing Section 232 tariffs that will support our industry’s expansion. However, we encourage President Trump and his administration to deliver a deal with Canada to ensure robust metal supply for U.S. manufacturers and consumers as he did in his first term with the USMCA [United States-Mexico-Canada Act].”

Adds Johnson, “We appreciate President Trump’s focus and attention on growing and strengthening the U.S. aluminum industry, and there is a lot to like in today’s action. The domestic industry has invested more than $10 billion since 2016 mostly in mid-and-downstream production and recycling. This has been driven by growing demand, a competitive tax environment and strong, targeted trade enforcement the president supported in his first term.”

He concludes, “For this growth to continue, the U.S. aluminum industry needs two things: long-term market certainty and a reliable supply of affordable metal, which today comes in large part from Canada.”