Skip to main content

Progress Made on AD Case and GAEs for Aluminum Extrusions

By

Written by Jason Weber, V.P. of Government Affairs, Aluminum Extruders Council.

May proved to be a significant month for Trade and Government Affairs in the world of aluminum extrusions. At the beginning of May, the Department of Commerce (DOC) announced the affirmative determination on the anti-dumping (AD) portion of the trade case brought by the U.S. Aluminum Extruders Coalition (USAEC). You can read the announcement HERE. With the preliminary determination anti-dumping and countervailing duties announced against the subject countries, duty collection has begun and will be assessed against the importer of record. In between the preliminary determination and final hearing (September), Commerce will continue to collect information and potentially adjust the rates set during the preliminary determination.

Another significant announcement on May 20 came from the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) within the DOC, which adjusted the General Approved Exclusions (GAEs) on Section 232 tariffs. Read the announcement HERE. The removal of certain HTS codes from the GAEs will be effective July 1, 2024. As you’ll notice in the publication from BIS, the changes made thus far are the direct result of the comments submitted by the AEC in 2023 and additional influence from our Congressional letter-writing campaign. Thank you to all who participated. While we are pleased with the results thus far, the AEC must continue to push for additional HTS codes to be removed from the GAEs. Additionally, with the removal of certain HTS codes from the GAEs, the exclusion application process will be restarted on July 1. Therefore, the AEC will be working with membership and legal counsel to develop a process for gathering support and objecting to exclusion requests submitted to BIS.

The International Trade Commission (ITC) investigation 332 GHG Emissions Intensities Facility Level Questionnaire for Aluminum is in full swing. As a reminder, if you received a questionnaire the due date is June 8, 2024. Many thanks to Shane Tredup of Custom Aluminum Products Inc., and AEC Consultant Lynn Brown of Long Point Associates, for their work with the ITC in clarifying the data requirements for the questionnaire and hosting a member webinar. If you did not get a chance to attend the webinar you can view the event recording on the AECTech Webinar page HERE. (Note: you must be signed in as an AEC member to access this page. For help, please contact us at mail@aec.org.) 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Valuation, USMCA, and Fair Trade Priorities

By
 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...
Post a Comment
Read more

Section 232 Updates & Enforcement Expands

By
 The Administration issued another update to the Section 232 steel, aluminum and copper tariff program on June 1.  The program now reaches a growing list of derivative products and downstream imported goods where aluminum content is part of a larger product. The June 1 action modifies several of the 232 product annexes and makes temporary adjustments for certain equipment categories.  According to the White House fact sheet, certain agricultural equipment and other equipment will be adjusted from a 25 percent tariff to a 15 percent tariff.  The action also expands the category of industrial equipment eligible for the temporary 15 percent tariff treatment to include certain mobile industrial equipment, such as bulldozers and forklifts, when imported from trade deal countries eligible for that treatment.  These temporary changes are scheduled to remain in place through December 31, 2027. There were also modifications to the HTS codes covered by the annexes.  ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Section 232 Implications: Get the Latest

By
 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...
Post a Comment
Read more