Aluminum Association backs Mexico's decision to increase border tariffs on Chinese aluminium

Following the United States' command to the Mexican government to prevent China from shipping metals to the US via its ports, Mexico has announced an increase in border tariffs on many types of aluminium and aluminium products imported from China.

A week ago, United States President Joe Biden tripled the 7.5 per cent tariff on Chinese aluminium and steel imports to curb the rising flow of non-eco-friendly aluminium into China. In 2023, China's aluminium and steel exports to the United States were valued at US$1.7 billion. 

In response to the Mexican government's implementation of border tariffs on Chinese aluminium products, Charles Johnson, president & CEO of the Aluminium Association, said in a statement: "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."

When the US government announced the tripling of tariffs on Chinese aluminium, the Aluminium Association reaffirmed its commitment to work closely with the United States Trade Representative to implement the White House directive, showcasing a strong collaborative effort in navigating the evolving trade landscape.

Over the past few months, the Aluminum Association has been at the forefront, working closely with industry and governments in North America to address significant aluminium trade challenges in the region ahead of a mandated review of the USMCA in 2026. The association, along with the US, Canada, and Mexico, advocates for more vigorous trade enforcement, including potential tariffs.