The US government has rejected requests from Ford Motor Company and other automakers seeking relief from aluminium import tariffs, despite ongoing supply disruptions.

According to the report, Ford last week petitioned the administration for temporary duty relief until Novelis’ aluminium rolling facility in Oswego, New York, returns to full operations. The facility supplies aluminium sheet for major vehicles, including Ford’s F-150.  According to its parent company, Hindalco Industries, the plant is expected to restart operations by the end of the second quarter.

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To manage the shortage, Novelis has been supplying aluminium from plants in South Korea and Europe. These imports are subject to a 50 per cent tariff, increasing costs for automakers already facing limited domestic supply.

Automakers had requested temporary relief from tariffs to reduce financial pressure and maintain production levels until normal supply resumes. However, the government has not granted any exemptions so far.

Also read: APAA backs Trump’s aluminium tariffs enforcement order, targets import valuation loophole

The impact has been significant: Ford reported a 50 per cent drop in quarterly profit to USD 1 billion, alongside an 8.8 per cent year-on-year decline in US sales for Q1 2026. The automaker sold 457,315 units during the quarter, with SUV sales down 7.8 per cent and EV sales plunging nearly 35 per cent.

The Oswego facility also supplies major automakers like General Motors and Stellantis, although Ford Motor remains one of its biggest customers given its heavier use of aluminium in vehicle design.

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Across the sector, tariffs have cost automakers at least USD 35.4 billion since 2025, driving changes in production strategies and pricing decisions.