USMCA is a Win for North American Aluminum Industry: The Aluminium Association

Tom Dobbins, President and CEO, The Aluminium Association on 1^st July’20 delivered the communication in response to the execution of US-Mexico-Canada Agreement: “USMCA’s implementation is a historic achievement, and we greatly appreciate the efforts of the U.S., Canadian and Mexican governments in ensuring this trade agreement guarantees robust, fair and rules-based trade of aluminium and aluminium products between the three countries."

"Furthermore, the new Rules of Origin that incentivize regional sourcing of aluminium for auto parts and vehicles will drive demand for U.S. aluminium manufacturers in the years to come.”

Dobbins also stated that the integrated North American aluminium supply chain has been a crucial element of the U.S. aluminium industry’s ability to invest and grow over the past several decades. Fully 97% of U.S. aluminium industry jobs are in mid-and-downstream production and processing, and these jobs depend on a mix of domestic and imported primary aluminium to meet demand, including from countries like Canada. As manufacturers transition to comply with USMCA, increased trade of aluminium within North America will benefit the U.S. aluminium industry.

The US President Donald Trump struck a good deal to exempt Canada from the Section 232 tariffs last year, and that deal is still working for the U.S. aluminium industry and the 690,000 American jobs it supports. The domestic aluminium industry will continue to thrive within a tariff- and quota-free North American region.

With strong commitments like those from all three countries to monitor aluminium imports and trade rules, the region can work together to address the fundamental issue of persistent aluminium overcapacity in China and its detrimental impact on the global aluminium market.