US Aluminum Association hopes for stronger trade defense after EU TRQ deal

The US Aluminum Association Nov. 4 called on the Biden administration to "redouble efforts" with the EU promoting strong trade enforcement and combatting global excess aluminum capacity following a deal between the two governments that replaced the US' metal tariffs on European producers with quotas.

The trade association added that it disagreed with the new quota deal that will still limit duty-free US imports of steel and aluminum from the EU but is encouraged by the governments' commitment to jointly address market-distorting practices in China, according to a statement.

"American workers [in the aluminum industry] depend on an integrated supply chain that allows for fair trade among allies to meet demand and support growth," Ryan Olsen, the association's vice president of market growth & development, said in the statement.

"While we fully support efforts to spur meaningful investment in domestic primary aluminum production, it is simply a fact that we cannot continue to invest in US manufacturing and grow American aluminum jobs without open but rules-based trade with other market-oriented economies."

The Aluminum Association said it has also asked US Trade Representative Katherine Tai to push the European Commission to reimplement recently suspended tariffs on unfairly dumped Chinese flat-rolled aluminum.

The Biden administration must also reform the Section 232 steel and aluminum tariff exclusion process, promote aluminum recycling infrastructure through policy and facilitate industrial access to affordable and reliable clean energy, the association added.

"Policymakers need to recognize the unique position of the US aluminum industry in the global marketplace, including key differences between steel and aluminum," Olsen said.

"We need trade strategies that work for all US aluminum companies rather than a few select market segments. That's the path to sustainable growth and investment for the domestic industry, which makes some of the cleanest aluminum and aluminum products in the world."