Skip to main content

AEC Members: The Lifeblood of Fair Trade Action

The lifeblood of the U.S. industry’s trade action against Chinese extruders is the energy of its members.  That energy manifests itself as action, communication, and financial participation.  By the end of 2013 the industry had invested over $5.5 million in legal fees and other costs associated with winning, and subsequently defending this case since the process began in late 2009.  This investment has gone to winning the original petition, fighting off a major court decision referred to as GPX, dozens of scope requests and appeals, the first annual administrative review, and a substantial down payment on the second annual administrative review. As 2014 takes shape it is clear that this battle will continue to rage.  I want to lay out the costs, and present our 2014 funding strategy.

For the rest of the story, click here (AEC members-only credentials required; for information on becoming an AEC member, visit www.aec.org/about/memberinfo.cfm

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Valuation, USMCA, and Fair Trade Priorities

 The primary focus of our government affairs work at this moment centers on the Section 232 valuation issue currently under discussion in Washington, D.C.  As highlighted during the recent Aluminum Summit and in prior AEC communications, there remains uncertainty regarding how the Administration intends to resolve this matter. The original Executive Order that established the Section 232 aluminum tariffs made clear that the tariffs were intended to apply to the full value of the imported aluminum extrusion, not solely the value of the aluminum content within the product.  At this time, it remains unclear whether the Administration will seek to address the issue by issuing a new Executive Order or by providing additional interpretive guidance through U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).  The AEC is actively monitoring these discussions and will update members as soon as a definitive course of action emerges. Parallel to the valuation discussions, attention is tur...

Section 232 Implications: Get the Latest

 Recently, the AEC released a detailed fact sheet outlining the implications of Section 232 tariffs on aluminum imports, available for review on our website here. This document underscores our ongoing commitment to transparency and informed decision-making within our member base. Previously, we updated the 232 Derivative Products List to include a comprehensive breakdown of HTSUS codes and product descriptions, aimed at providing clarity for our stakeholders accessible here . Additionally, The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) within the Department of Commerce established a formal process for the addition of aluminum products designated the USHTS codes. The first window for submission opened on May 1, 2025, and closed on May 15, 2025. After the posting and public comment period occurs the BIS will make a final determination within 60 days. In addition to these regulatory updates, the Trump Administratio...

AEC Testifies at USMCA Hearing in Washington

Since the AEC’s last Government Affairs update, the Council participated in the U.S.–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) hearing held in Washington, DC, from December 3–5. The hearing drew more than 200 participants representing a broad range of perspectives on the future of the agreement. The AEC appeared on a panel immediately following the steel industry, and it was noteworthy how closely aligned many of the challenges facing aluminum extruders are with those impacting steel producers—particularly with respect to trade enforcement, circumvention, and market distortion. These discussions reinforced the importance of maintaining a strong, competitive aluminum extrusion industry and underscored the essential role our sector plays as a supplier of critical inputs across construction, transportation, energy, and numerous other segments of the North American economy. During our testimony, the AEC used the hearing as an opportunity to highlight ongoing concerns regarding trade circumventio...