Trump Administration Scraps Taxes on Canadian Aluminum Imports

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster):  U.S President Donald Trump signed proclamation, formally removing tariffs on raw aluminum imports from Canada. The proclamation follows the agreement reached between Canada and the U.S. Trade Representative’s office to reinstate the exclusion for imports from 10% Section 232 tariffs, retroactive to September 1^st. Meantime, the proclamation threatens to reinstate the tariffs, in case the imports surge higher than specified limits, before the end of the current year.

The tariffs were initially imposed in 2018. The Trump administration had initially granted exclusion to Canada in 2019. However, the tariffs were reinstated in August this year, following surge in imports of non-alloyed, unwrought aluminum from Canada. The Canadian producers had disputed the claim.

The proclamation read that the administration has determined that imports of aluminum from Canada will no longer threaten to impair the national security. The tariffs may be reimposed in the event that the volume of imports in the remaining months of 2020 exceeds the expected quantities. The limit is set as 83 million kilograms in September and November, and 70 million in October and December.

The U.S. will closely watch import volumes in the remaining months of the year. The two countries will again have consultations in December 2020 on import levels and existing market conditions.

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