For over a decade, the U.S. aluminum industry has been under attack. Illegal subsidization of domestic aluminum production perpetuated by Russia, the Middle East, China, Australia, Argentina, Canada, Mexico and many foreign countries devastated the domestic U.S. primary aluminum industry.
In 2000, the United States had 23 operating primary aluminum smelters, employed nearly 16,000 production workers, and today only three U.S. smelters remain. An Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) found that foreign countries gave major subsidies to their domestic aluminum producers.
In 2015, the whole domestic aluminum industry was set for closure due to unfairly traded foreign imports entering the United States. By the fall of 2015, the U.S. industry was in crisis, U.S. producers had announced closure of all remaining U.S. capacity except for a single pot line, production was cut to a minuscule 765K tons and 4,000 aluminum workers lost their jobs. The historic election of President Donald J. Trump led to the Trump Administration successfully using Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 to protect U.S. national security from unfairly traded aluminum. On March 8th, 2018, President Trump signed a Presidential proclamation imposing tariffs on foreign aluminum imports to protect us from countries that cheat and put U.S. national security first. By the end of 2018, U.S. primary aluminum production increased by over 60% and the industry rebounded. President Trump’s strong leadership on trade policy saved the domestic primary aluminum industry from total collapse.
Once President Biden assumed office his administration granted exclusions and exemptions to certain countries and numerous products from the tariff which undermined the program. Shortly after being exempted from the Section 232 tariffs, primary aluminum imports from Canada surged. By 2024, imports of primary aluminum from Canada were 18 percent higher than the annual three-year average import volume from Canada prior to the imposition of Section 232 tariffs. President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris ended Mr. Trump’s “Golden Age” of aluminum manufacturing and gave foreign countries a blank check to flood our country with unfairly traded aluminum imports, resulting in thousands of Americans losing their manufacturing jobs. In February 2025, President Trump signed into law two new proclamations to strengthen the Section 232 tariffs that were introduced during his historic first term. With a 25 percent elevated tariff on aluminum and a true 25 percent tariff on steel, the days of the Biden administration giving country exemptions and exceptions are over.
The tariffs imposed by the Trump Administration provide the relief needed to level the playing field for American aluminum workers and foster a thriving aluminum industry. The U.S. aluminum sector is once again on a growth trajectory, securing American jobs, revitalizing local economies, and reinforcing national security.
As President Trump said in his address before the joint session of Congress “tariffs are not just about protecting American jobs, they’re about protecting the soul of our country.” The American Primary Aluminum Association remains committed to advocating for policies that uphold a strong and sustainable domestic aluminum industry, ensuring fair competition for American aluminum workers and manufacturers.
“This is not an area where we can afford to become dependent on other countries.”
The two leaders meet at Mar-a-Lago in Florida to discuss trade deals.
Eight senators, including Sens. Brown (D-OH), Portman (R-OH), Schumer (D-NY) and Stabenow (D-MI), sent letter to Obama admin. demanding WTO case filing
15,000 Americans sign Change.org petition demanding action against illegal Chinese aluminum subsidies
The effects of global overcapacity can be seen everyday
Jobs Lost
Smelters Closed
Economic Impact
“I’ve been here at Century Aluminum for 39 years…I want to give a special thanks to Representative Clyburn for allowing Century the opportunity to continue on an endeavor that I started 40 years ago…with the announcement of 70 new jobs that are coming to Mt Holly here, as also part of that Build Back Better Initiative that’s trying to get going in this country again. It’s a good job! We need to keep them in the United States…and continue to let Century provide a needed product for this country.”
“I’ve worked here for 10 years. When I took this job – there were a lot of plants here, but this was the most secure at the time and the best paying job around this area. And the job has meant a great deal to me and my family. This facility has helped me and my family. I was able to buy my first house and new vehicles because of the job here. “
The Century facility is one of our top employer and are a big part of the fabric of the economy we have here. The impact they have – in terms of taxes – that’s about 10 percent of the local county budget. And that provides services whether it be building roads, bridges, our emergency services through police, fire, ambulance, these are critical services. So, the ripple effect of that is going to have a significant impact on not only the families and jobs that are being lost there but also the businesses in the area…everyone in the region is going to feel the impact.”
“I’ve worked now this year for 25 years. One of the best jobs I’ve ever had: When I started, we lived in a single-wide trailer. I drove a little beat-up Ranger, a pick-up truck. As I moved up and my pay moved up, I was able to afford a better vehicle and we now live in a 4-bedroom house. I’m going to get my 30 years and retire. There is a lot of new guys and I would like nothing more to see them get their 30 years.”