US Chamber of Commerce to Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association cheering US decision of removing aluminium tariffs

Most trade associations that represent the US and Canadian aluminium industries cheered the US surprise announcement of removing tariffs on the Canadian aluminium. Some also took issue with the quota system that has taken place.

“Canada’s aluminium industry is glad to regain its continued tariff-free entry into the US market as it strives to meet its integrated value chain requirements in a post-Covid recovery,” said Jean Simard in a statement, president and chief executive officer of the Aluminium Association of Canada.

The US Chamber of Commerce and groups representing the US automotive sector also applauded the tariff removal. “What American manufacturers need now is certainty that these tariffs won’t make another reappearance,” said Myron Brilliant, the chamber's head of international affairs.

Greeting the US decision to resume duty-free non-alloyed unwrought aluminium imports from Canada, the American Automotive Policy Council said, “these tariffs were a burden on the US auto industry and we recommend they not be re-imposed.”

The Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association agreed and said, “This is a positive step in the right direction. MEMA has clearly demonstrated the negative impact of tariff to the motor vehicle parts supplier industry, which is the largest sector of manufacturing jobs in the United States. Especially at a time when the industry is facing significant economic challenges, it is important that the US not impose tariffs that increase manufacturing costs and reduce manufacturing competitiveness.”

The Precision Metalforming Association (PMA) also praised the US decision on removing tariffs, but took issue with the quotas.

 “Tariffs or quotas would raise costs and disrupt supplies as our member companies continue to recover from unprecedented challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Manufacturers have paid billions of dollars in steel and aluminium tariffs over the past two years, money that could be used for hiring workers and capital investment. PMA continues to call on the US government to terminate all Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs," PMA president David Klotz said.

 Beer Institute president and chief executive officer Jim McGreevy also expressed frustration with the quota. He said, “When something sounds too good to be true, it probably is... It was a surprising statement, not a negotiated deal, with many strings and convenient dates to address the highly unpopular tariff imposed on Canadian imports in August.”

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