The American Primary Aluminum Association (APAA) said it supports an executive order issued by Donald Trump to tighten enforcement of aluminium tariffs.

Until now, importers had been declaring only the value of the raw aluminium used in products, leaving out the additional value created through processing. This allowed finished aluminium goods to enter the country at lower tariff rates than originally intended.

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The latest order requires importers to declare the full value of aluminium products, ensuring tariffs are applied more accurately. The aluminium tariff stays at 50 per cent under Section 232 rules. The order does not change the tariff rate but clarifies how the value of imports should be calculated.

Section 232 tariffs are the US taxes on imported aluminium and steel. They come from a 1962 law that lets the president raise them if imports hurt national security.

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APAA President Mark Duffy said the move would help enforce the tariff more effectively. He added that underreporting had reduced the impact of the policy. In his words, “Importers who cheat on valuation undermine national security. We applaud President Trump's decisive leadership, which is creating thousands of American aluminium jobs and billions of dollars in new domestic investment."

Industry groups say stricter enforcement may support domestic producers by reducing pricing differences between imported and locally produced aluminium.

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The American Primary Aluminium Association represents the US primary aluminium industry and operates as a non-profit trade organisation.