Consensus amongst U.S. aluminum extrusion leaders in support of Senator Tom Cotton for spearheading effort in calling for DOC to give heed to threats to the American aluminum extrusion industry and its workers from untariffed imports.
RUSSELLVILLE, Ark., June 9, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- U.S. aluminum extrusion leader Taber Extrusions voices their support of Senator Tom Cotton for initiating the effort to ask the Department of Commerce (DOC) for immediate attention in protecting the American aluminum industry against foreseeable pitfall. Other supporters of Cotton include The Aluminum Extruders Council (AEC), Senators Mitt Romney, Sherrod Brown, Debbie Stabenow, Rafael Warnock, Bob Casey, and Marco Rubio – who also signed the letter.
"The aluminum extrusion industry is a crucial player in a myriad of areas of our country's economy. Our military and defense sectors depend upon us to deliver resources in a consistent manner, and this tariff puts this in jeopardy." says Jason Weber, V.P. of Marketing & Sales at Taber Extrusions.
A recent DOC report stated that rising aluminum imports "are 'weakening our internal economy' and threaten to impair the national security as defined in Section 232" and imposed a 10% tariff in response. As a result, aluminum imports fell by 31% and domestic production rose by nearly a billion dollars between 2018-2021. As such, the DOC noted in public remarks that "the data shows that those tariffs have been effective." Because of these overly-broad tariff exclusion rules, these tariffs may have helped limit unfair foreign competition for principal aluminum producers - but don't protect domestic aluminum extruders. The DOC also adopted a "General Approved Exclusion or "GAE" process whereby importers of foreign-made aluminum extrusions are granted automatic exclusion to the Aluminum 232 tariffs.
According to the AEC, "The General Approved Exclusions rules are unfair to American aluminum extruders and as a result foreign imports have risen 82 percent and market penetration now exceeds 25 percent, the highest level in more than a decade… (US) extruders have been forced to cut shifts, capital investment, and production, putting this robust industry at risk and costing our nation nearly 9,000 jobs. Extrusion plants could be shuttered if these trends continue, which will hurt American workers and undermine America's defense industrial base."
Taber Extrusions, alongside Senator Cotton and the AEC urges the DOC to revoke the GAE related to aluminum extrusions and revise the criteria upon which objections can be filed.
The full Senate letter can be accessed HERE.
Taber Extrusions a minority business enterprise, fully integrated with In-house casting, extrusion, and fabrication, IS0 9001, AS9100, and NADCAP certified, and offers alloys in 2xxx, 5xxx, 6xxx, and 7xxx series with extrusion sizes ranging from less than 1 lb./ft. up to 140 lbs./ft. Taber is a leading supplier of aluminum extrusions purposed for Military and Department of Defense, and offers a diverse range of products and services while simultaneously maintaining a high level of customer care and support.
Connect at http://www.taberextrusions.com or call directly 888.985.5332.
Media Contact
Jason Weber, Taber Extrusions, 605-321-4387, [email protected]
SOURCE Taber Extrusions
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