Aluminum Trade Groups in Conflict Over Trade Remedies Case

Aluminum trade groups are in disagreement on a trade remedy case on aluminum extrusions, with the Aluminum Association and its Mexican and Canadian counterparts telling U.S., Canadian and Mexican government officials that "the filing of a 15-country trade case, which includes Mexico, by a subsection of U.S. aluminum extrusion producers threatens to overshadow the longstanding coordination and partnership between the aluminum industries in the three countries."

The Aluminum Association and its counterparts said Mexico hasn't enhanced its aluminum import monitoring, as it promised to do in exchange for the lifting of 10% tariffs on Mexican aluminum under Section 232. They noted that the three countries traded more than $47 billion in aluminum and aluminum products across the region.

The Aluminum Extruders Council reacted angrily to the letter, saying statements contained in it are "both myopic and tone deaf."

"Mexico has allowed other countries like China and Russia to weaponize USMCA by allowing Mexican extruders to process unfairly traded metal to gain market share in the United States," the AEC wrote. The group said the Aluminum Association's agenda caters to the whims of large multinational organizations.