Skip to main content

Progress Made on AD Case and GAEs for Aluminum Extrusions

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

Popular posts from this blog

Victories and Struggles: Our Mission Persists

 On December 3, 2024, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) took action in issuing a forced labor finding against Kingtom Aluminio S.R.L. (“Kingtom”).  This victory for U.S. extruders is a culmination of years of effort between the AEC and United Steel Workers (USW), which started with the initial Enforce and Protect Act (EAPA) allegation filed in 2019.  As a result of this finding, CBP has authorized all port directors to seize imports of aluminum extrusions from Kingtom.   For almost 15 years the Aluminum Extrusion Fair Trade Committee (AEFTC) has worked on a wide variety of trade activities.  In defending the China I case, the AEFTC has navigated the 232 Tariffs and has worked with other organizations on EAPA allegations, along with circumvention and transshipment issues.  Thank you to all who have contributed time and resources over the years!  However, there will be more work to do.  With a new administration and 2025 fast approa...

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...

“The Only Constant in Life is Change” – Heraclitus (Greek philosopher)

 No matter what side of the Presidential election you were in favor of, we knew the Administration was going to change.  For the AEC and Government Affairs we can find opportunities in these changes and work towards advancing our position with a new Administration and Congress.  The AEC is actively monitoring any potential changes, which could affect our efforts related to the 232/301 Tariffs, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Grant Funding, United States Trade Representative (USTR) Global Arrangement Negotiations and other items of interest.  On October 30, the International Trade Commission (ITC) voted to rescind the tariffs on aluminum extruded products determined by the Department of Commerce (DOC).  As we all know, the tariffs imposed under the China I case have played a major role in protecting the domestic industry and the hope was for this new case to increase the protections.  Unfortunately, that was not the case.  However, as we look forw...