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Trade Enforcement a Top Priority for AEC

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 Trade enforcement continues to be a top priority for AEC, and we have several important activities underway.

On November 4, AEC will host the Aluminum Extrusion Identification, Classification and Trade Law Seminar for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at Custom Aluminum Products in Genoa, Illinois. This will be our first CBP training seminar since 2017, and it’s an important opportunity to help educate enforcement officials on the wide variety of shapes, forms and applications of aluminum extrusions.

As we all know, extrusions don’t always look like extrusions, particularly once they’ve been fabricated or incorporated into other products. Helping CBP understand these differences is critical to the continued enforcement of the China I AD/CVD orders and the Administration’s broader trade policies. I want to thank Custom Aluminum and everyone involved in making this training possible.

I also want to thank everyone who attended our recent Fall Management Conference. We had some excellent discussions during our trade breakout sessions covering Enforce and Protect Act  (EAPA) investigations, e-Allegations, transshipment, circumvention, the False Claims Act and offensive scope work related to the China I orders.

One of the more important discussions focused on how our industry can do a better job identifying and sharing information about potential trade violations. Our members see what’s happening in the marketplace, and that knowledge can be extremely valuable in helping AEC and our trade counsel pursue enforcement actions. We need to continue finding ways to turn that information into action.

On the trade front, there have also been developments in cases involving products that use aluminum extrusions. Commerce recently issued affirmative determinations involving truck bed covers from China, including final countervailing duty rates ranging from 11.60% to 142.11%. The investigations involving van-type trailers and subassemblies have also progressed, with affirmative final determinations involving China and ongoing proceedings involving Mexico and Canada.

These cases are worth watching, particularly given the significant use of extrusions in these products and the potential implications for our industry.

There is no shortage of trade issues demanding our attention. Between the Administration’s tariff policies, ongoing AD/CVD proceedings and efforts to address circumvention and duty evasion, AEC continues to work to ensure that our trade laws are effectively enforced.

As always, the AEC appreciates the continued engagement and support of our members. It makes a difference in our ability to protect and strengthen the domestic aluminum extrusion industry.


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