The Aluminum Association Applauds U.S. Court of International Trade’s Decision on Aluminum Foil Appeal

ARLINGTON, VA – The Aluminum Association responded today to the U.S. Court of International Trade’s decision affirming virtually all of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s final antidumping determination on certain aluminum foil from China. In a statement, Aluminum Association Vice President for Policy and International Trade Lauren Wilk said:

“The Aluminum Association was pleased that the U.S. Court of International Trade affirmed the bulk of the Department of Commerce’s final antidumping determination on certain aluminum foil from China. The court’s decision reinforces the critical role rules play in a functioning global trading system. Targeted trade enforcement – as we’ve seen successfully deployed in the U.S. markets for aluminum foil and common alloy sheet– can have a meaningful and positive impact on U.S. manufacturers. The association and its member companies are determined to vigorously defend these orders and are committed to trade enforcement as a tool to address the symptoms of persistent Chinese overcapacity in the aluminum industry, which is impacting the entire value chain.”

Earlier this year, the association released a white paper – Targeted Trade Enforcement in Action: Aluminum Foil AD/CVD One-Year Later – that highlights progress made following the Commerce Department’s final application of antidumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) orders on imports of certain aluminum foil from China. The report, which includes data that shows a nearly two-thirds drop in imports of unfairly subsidized Chinese aluminum foil and $169 million in U.S. investment in the segment, underscores the tangible impact strong trade enforcement can have on U.S. producers. 

While tools like antidumping and countervailing duty investigations are critical for enforcing rules-based trade and have led to a sharp decline in unfairly traded Chinese imports to the United States in key aluminum segments, global exports of downstream aluminum products from China hit record levels in 2018 – growing by nearly 25 percent year-over-year. The association and its member companies continue to carefully monitor global trade flows to ensure that U.S. producers are competing on a level playing field within North America and in the global market.

We continue to believe that resolving ongoing structural overcapacity in China, as documented by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in a recent report, is the best way to ensure continued growth and investment in the U.S. aluminum industry for the long-term. If not addressed directly, China’s unfairly subsidized overcapacity will continue to distort the global market for primary aluminum and aluminum products – to the detriment of U.S. aluminum producers. 

To learn more, please visit https://www.aluminum.org/timeforaction.

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About The Aluminum Association
The Aluminum Association represents aluminum production and jobs in the United States, ranging from primary production to value added products to recycling, as well as suppliers to the industry. The Association is the industry’s leading voice, providing global standards, business intelligence, sustainability research and industry expertise to member companies, policymakers and the general public. The aluminum industry helps manufacturers produce sustainable and innovative products, including more fuel-efficient vehicles, recyclable packaging, greener buildings and modern electronics.  In the U.S., the aluminum industry supports $174 billion in economic activity and nearly 700,000 jobs. For more information visit https://www.aluminum.org, on Twitter @AluminumNews or at Facebook.com/AluminumAssociation.