Trump plans to impose tariffs up to 81 percent on Chinese aluminum

A Chinese man collects discarded aluminum grates at a recycling depot in downtown Beijing on July 10, 2016. With the flood of Chinese government-subsidized aluminum coming into U.S. markets, the Trump administration announced on August 8 plans to impose steep tariffs. File Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI

Aug. 9 (UPI) — The Trump administration is planning to impose tariffs up to 81 percent on aluminum foil imported from China.

The Commerce Department said Tuesday night the tariff rate could range between 16.5 percent and 81 percent, based on the subsidies from the Chinese government, CNN reported.

“The United States is committed to free, fair and reciprocal trade, and will continue to validate the information provided to us that brought us to this decision,” Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said in a statement. “The Trump Administration will not stand idly by as harmful trade practices from foreign nations attempt to take advantage of our essential industries, workers, and businesses.”

The Aluminum Association, a lobby group for U.S. aluminum manufacturers, described the Chinese government subsidies as “unfair” and praised the decision to tax Chinese aluminum imports.

The association and its foil-producing members are very pleased with the Commerce Department’s finding and we greatly appreciate Secretary Ross’s leadership in enforcing U.S. trade laws to combat unfair practices,” said Heidi Brock, President and CEO of the Aluminum Association. “This is an important step to begin restoring a level playing field for U.S. aluminum foil production, an industry that supports more than 20,000 direct, indirect, and induced American jobs, and accounts for $6.8 billion in economic activity.”

The Trump administration has been hawkish on the Chinese aluminum industry for several months, while U.S. manufacturers habe long been a foe of the country’s ability to export loads of cheap aluminum into the U.S. market.

In April, the Commerce Department launched an investigation to determine the threat of Chinese aluminum and even said it was a national security concern due to the defense industry’s need for aluminum to fighter jets.

Ross said without a strong American aluminum industry, the defense industry wouldn’t be able to obtain enough aluminum from U.S. companies.

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