"Honestly, we knew from the start that it was invalid", reacts the President of the National Union of Aluminum Employees of Baie-Comeau, Michel Desbiens, following the decision of the United States to finally withdraw the imposition of tariffs on Canadian aluminium exports.
Michel Desbiens said: “The news reassures the union and happy with the outcome. Even if he indicates that the 10% surtax imposed since mid-August did not have time to hurt the Alcoa aluminium smelter in Baie-Comeau, the situation could easily have been different over time.”
"When you pay a tax, you certainly have less capital to invest", specifies the one who feared the repercussions on the long-term investments in the plant.
The president of the union, which represents some 700 members, is optimistic that the situation will be stable for some time, although the aftermath of the American election carries its share of uncertainty. As this was the second time in two years that the Americans imposed a surtax on Canadian aluminium exports.
Mr Desbiens is not taking anything for granted. "Hoping that we will be quiet for a shock.”
He finally salutes the work done by the Canadian government to overturn the US decision; a reversal confirmed by the office of the US Trade Representative on 15th September’20, on the pretext that aluminium exports have declined in recent months. The announcement was made on the same day that Canada, in turn, was expected to unveil retaliatory measures against goods originating from the United States.
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