Kentucky’s largest aluminum producer supports the Trump administration’s decision to keep steel and aluminum tariffs on most countries. Those import taxes were recently removed on Canada and Mexico, but remain in place for other countries.
Century Aluminum credited the tariffs for its reinvestment in the Hawesville, Kentucky, smelter, which had been operating at reduced capacity. Century Vice President Jesse Gary said he supports the administration’s decision to remove aluminum import tariffs on Canada and Mexico because Trump kept in place some protections for the industry. He said one such measure will address Century’s concern about Canada and Mexico flooding the U.S. market.
Kentucky’s largest aluminum producer supports the Trump administration’s decision to keep steel and aluminum tariffs on most countries. Those import taxes were recently removed on Canada and Mexico, but remain in place for other countries.
Century Aluminum credited the tariffs for its reinvestment in the Hawesville, Kentucky, smelter, which had been operating at reduced capacity. Century Vice President Jesse Gary said he supports the administration’s decision to remove aluminum import tariffs on Canada and Mexico because Trump kept in place some protections for the industry. He said one such measure will address Century’s concern about Canada and Mexico flooding the U.S. market.
“One key aspect of it is you’ll see there’s a mechanism to ensure that Canada and Mexico don’t exceed their historical levels of imports or surge over their historical levels of imports. And this is important because it means it allows room for the U.S. industry to continue to grow,” said Gary.
Gary said since the tariffs have been in place, the primary aluminum industry has increased its capacity by about 60 percent. But he said the overcapacity around the world still needs to be addressed.
The Trump administration exempted Canada and Mexico from metals tariffs as part of negotiations with Congress to pass the United States Mexico Canada Agreement.
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