ARLINGTON, VA, April 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Charles Johnson, president & CEO of the Aluminum Association, released the following statement following the Mexican government’s announcement of increased border tariffs on hundreds of products including many types of aluminum and aluminum products:
“We appreciate this important first step by the government of Mexico to tighten aluminum trade enforcement in North America – consistent with commitments made under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). While we continue to assess how these tariffs might impact regional trade flows, we look forward to further aligning the action with the United States Section 232 aluminum tariff regime. A coordinated regional strategy will better insulate North America from heavily state subsidized and illegally traded metal from China, as well as more recently discounted Russian metal. The Aluminum Association also understands and shares the concerns expressed by other industry groups that duty forgiveness programs such as IMMEX may undermine the impact of this action. We also continue to encourage governments across the region to ramp up trade monitoring systems to quickly identify transshipped and otherwise unfairly traded aluminum. The Aluminum Association has long advocated for trade enforcement that targets bad actors in the marketplace while maintaining open trade with partners who play by the rules. Mexico’s action this week was not specifically tailored to address Chinese and Russian imports, as the joint statement from the North American industries recently called for. We will work with the U.S. and Mexican governments to ensure that these new tariffs are constructed and enforced in a smart, targeted, and efficient way so that they do not negatively impact valued trading partners.”
In recent months, the Aluminum Association has worked closely with industry and governments in North America to address significant aluminum trade challenges in the region ahead of a mandated review of the USMCA in 2026. The association has joined industry partners in Canada and Mexico advocating for stronger trade enforcement including potential tariffs; more transparent monitoring and reporting of aluminum trade flows in the region; and the creation of a North American Aluminum Trade Committee (NAATC) to formalize regional collaboration between government and industry.
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About The Aluminum Association
The Aluminum Association represents the full value chain of aluminum production and jobs in the United States, including companies that make 70% of the aluminum and aluminum products shipped in North America. The association is the industry’s leading voice, developing global standards, business intelligence, sustainability research and industry expertise for member companies, policymakers and the general public. Aluminum helps manufacturers make good products great and great products even better – from fuel-efficient vehicles and sustainable packaging to the infrastructure of tomorrow and more. The industry supports $228 billion in economic activity and nearly 700,000 jobs in the United States. Aluminum companies have invested more than $10 billion in U.S. manufacturing over the past decade to capture next generation growth. For more information, visit https://www.aluminum.org.
