Aluminum Association backs ‘all-of-the-above’ supply approach after Trump says US ‘desperately needs aluminum’

The Aluminum Association has responded to President Donald Trump’s recent remarks that the United States “desperately needs aluminium,” with its President and CEO Charles Johnson calling for an “all-of-the-above” approach that expands both primary and recycled aluminium production while maintaining access to imported metal from reliable trading partners. 

Johnson said Trump was right about the need for aluminium in the US but argued that domestic production alone cannot meet current demand. “We need to build both primary and secondary capacity — coupled with smart, targeted trade enforcement — to win the future,” he said.

The comments followed Trump’s remarks during a telephone rally for Oklahoma Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Mazzei. There he stated, “Selfishly, we need aluminium in this country. We don’t have it. We get it all from Canada for the most part, and we need it badly.” 

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Trump also promoted a proposed aluminium plant in Inola, Oklahoma, saying the country needed additional domestic capacity. His observations come as the US and Canada remain involved in escalating trade tensions, with 50 per cent metals tariffs becoming a major point of tension. Recent reporting has also highlighted the importance of Canadian aluminium to US supply chains.

Johnson said the US should increase both primary aluminium capacity and secondary aluminium production through recycling. He further added,  “US demand remains strong, and until we bring more domestic capacity online, which will take years, we have no alternative than to import primary metal.” 

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He mentioned that stronger secondary aluminium production could also help support demand, pointing to a record number of US aluminium recycling jobs reported by the industry in 2026.

The comments come against the backdrop of the latest US-Canada trade disagreement. Canada recently announced that it would raise its counter-tariffs on US aluminium and steel products to 50 per cent, with the measures forming part of a wider retaliatory package covering around USD 20 billion of annual US imports. 

The new Canadian duties are set to take effect on September 8, while Ottawa has also announced a CAD 7.5 billion (USD 5.4 billion) support package for businesses affected by the trade tensions.