Tom Dobbins, president & CEO of the Aluminum Association, released the following statement on potential changes to the Section 232 aluminum tariff program under the incoming Biden administration: 

“The Aluminum Association continues to favor a targeted approach to trade enforcement. Across-the-board tariffs have failed to dent the non-market-based structural subsidies that drive overcapacity and hurt U.S. aluminum producers and workers. We look forward to working with President-elect Biden’s trade team on new, creative approaches to combat this perennial challenge, including renewed cooperation with traditional trading partners and allies. 

As the administration considers changes to the Section 232 tariff program, the association will provide country-specific input. Changes to the program should be considered carefully to allow the market to adjust as a comprehensive trade policy is implemented to support the U.S. aluminum value chain. As long as Section 232 tariffs remain in place, we will continue to call for significant reforms to the product exclusion process, which has allowed importers to game the system and created incentives to import aluminum products. Ultimately, we favor a multilateral approach to encourage market-based economies to keep unfairly traded aluminum out and minimize market distortions."

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About The Aluminum Association
The Aluminum Association represents aluminum production and jobs in the United States, ranging from primary production to value added products to recycling, as well as suppliers to the industry. The association is the industry’s leading voice, representing companies that make 70 percent of the aluminum and aluminum products shipped in North America. The association develops global standards, business intelligence, sustainability research and industry expertise for member companies, policymakers and the general public. The aluminum industry helps manufacturers produce sustainable and innovative products, including more fuel-efficient vehicles, recyclable packaging, greener buildings and modern electronics.  In the U.S., the aluminum industry supports $172 billion in economic activity and nearly 660,000 jobs. For more information visit https://www.aluminum.org, on Twitter @AluminumNews or at Facebook.com/AluminumAssociation.