Aluminum Association Statement on 50% Section 232 Aluminum Tariffs

Aluminum Association President & CEO Charles Johnson issued the following statement in response the Trump administration’s decision to increase Section 232 aluminum tariffs from 25% to 50%: 
 
“Re-establishing a more level playing field for domestic producers is critical but a Section 232 tariff of 50% threatens to undermine the very industry the administration aims to support. The Aluminum Association, which represents the full industry supply chain and 70% of domestic production, urges the administration to reconsider today's decision given the negative impact it will have on manufacturers.  
 
Aluminum and steel are fundamentally different metals with distinct supply chains, market dynamics and strategic challenges. A one-size-fits-all approach to trade policy for these strategic materials risks unintended consequences for the U.S. economy and our national defense. Critically, a 50% tariff rate could also raise prices for consumers, decrease demand and undermine the aluminum industry’s ability to serve the U.S. defense industrial base. Aluminum firms need a reliable supply of metal, protection from transshipped metal from non-market economies, and certainty in the tariff landscape. 
 
The industry appreciates the Trump administration’s focus on bringing more aluminum production and jobs back to the United States and remains committed to supporting these goals. We look forward to working closely with the administration to clearly articulate industry concerns related to Section 232 tariffs and provide alternative actions that will better support the future growth of the U.S. aluminum industry.”