AEC Applauds U.S. trade representative’s decision to help protect the U.S. aluminum industry

<p>The Aluminum Extruders Council (AEC) announced its strong support for the new trade enforcement action against the People&rsquo;s Republic of China announced today by the United States Trade Representative (USTR).&nbsp; The action seeks to have the World Trade Organization (WTO) address U.S. concerns that China&rsquo;s subsidies to certain producers of primary aluminum is causing &ldquo;serious prejudice&rdquo; to U.S. interests by artificially expanding Chinese capacity, production and market share.&nbsp; &ldquo;China&rsquo;s subsidies have had and are continuing to have a significant adverse impact on the U.S. domestic aluminum industry, and ultimately are harmful to American jobs, workers and business,&rdquo; said Matt McMahon, AEC&rsquo;s Chairman. &ldquo;The USTR&rsquo;s action is an important first step towards addressing, and correcting, China&rsquo;s policies on aluminum.&rdquo;<br /><br />{googleAdsense}<br /><br />The Aluminum Extruders Council has been a leader in seeking to level the competitive playing field for aluminum extruders, and aluminum in general, through its efforts to impose countervailing duties on Chinese imports. &ldquo;We have continued to witness inexplicable marketplace behavior by Chinese aluminum extruders,&rdquo; McMahon said, &ldquo;despite our industry&rsquo;s best efforts to have the U.S. impose duties.&rdquo; AEC congratulates Ambassador Michael Froman of the USTR and notes that &ldquo;It&rsquo;s high time the U.S. address the anticompetitive policies in China that allow for these types of market disruptions,&rdquo; said Mr. McMahon.<br /><br />AEC also acknowledges the leadership role played by Century Aluminum in bringing this important issue forward.&nbsp; AEC will continue to work with the USTR and the new administration to assure that the market for aluminum products is not artificially distorted by China&rsquo;s policies and practices.</p>