US includes Russian aluminium extrusions in the 200% tariff bar

The Joe Biden Administration announced a 200 per cent tariff on Russian aluminium imports on February 24, 2023. The Aluminium Extruder Council stated that this order would cover aluminium extrusion imports from Russia. Coupled with the new Aluminum Import Monitoring System (AIMS), importers must now declare their extrusions' import country and the source of the billet and ingot. If extrusions are imported from a third country and made from a Russian ingot or billet, they will also be subject to the 200 per cent tariff.

AEC said, "The orders invite other countries to join the 200 per cent tariff by offering them a permanent exclusion from Aluminum 232 tariffs.  The language in the order could be more precise in this area, so we expect further clarification."

“Tracing extrusions from the Russian primary aluminium is crucial to the success of this action.  Otherwise, we expect continued surges in Russian primary aluminium and billet supplies to the countries already injuring our industry.”

Furthermore, it must be noted that following the Russia-Ukraine geopolitical crisis, Russia lost its 'Most Favored Nation' status, and consequently, the USA imposed tariffs on Russian imports.  This order also doubles the tariff on all of those products.

“We will continue to monitor this situation and update members as changes and clarifications are announced,” AEC added.

The AEC has led the US aluminium extrusion industry in achieving level competition by winning tariff protection that offsets unfair trade practices of extruders/importers of aluminium profiles produced in China. The efforts have been of enormous value to domestic extruders and suppliers and may have saved the industry. AEC estimates 1.2 billion pounds per year of extrusions produced in the US that would have otherwise been lost to China.