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Aluminum Association Welcomes Final Affirmative Determinations in Unfair Trade Investigations on Aluminum Foil

Department of Commerce Finds Aluminum Foil from Five Countries Is Unfairly Traded 

Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced its final determinations that imports of certain aluminum foil from Armenia, Brazil, Oman, Russia, and Turkey are being sold at less than fair value (or “dumped”) in the United States and that aluminum foil producers in Oman and Turkey are benefitting from unfair government subsidies.  
 
“Today’s decision is another sign that the United States is committed to combatting unfair trade through strong enforcement of international trade rules,” said Tom Dobbins, president and CEO of the Aluminum Association.  “These determinations bring domestic aluminum foil producers one step closer to securing relief from a second surge in unfairly-traded imports that hit the industry just as it was beginning to recover from an earlier wave of dumped foil from China.”
 
In the final determinations announced today, the Commerce Department calculated antidumping and countervailing duty deposit rates (including both final countervailing and antidumping duties), as follows:

  • Armenia - 29.11 percent
  • Brazil - 13.93 to 63.05 percent
  • Oman - 5.82 percent
  • Russia - 62.18 percent
  • Turkey - 4.88 percent

“The U.S. aluminum foil industry, which has invested more than $500 million in recent years to expand production and supply customers, includes the most competitive producers in the world,” added Dobbins.  “But U.S. manufacturers should not have to compete with products that are sold at unfairly low prices and subsidized by foreign governments in violation of the trade rules that we all must follow.”
 
The next step in the trade cases will be the United States International Trade Commission’s (USITC) final determination of whether imports from the five countries are a cause of material injury to or threaten to materially injure domestic aluminum foil producers.  The USITC is currently scheduled to announce its final determination on October 19, 2021.    
 
The certain aluminum foil subject to the Commerce Department’s investigation includes flat-rolled aluminum products that are 0.2 mm or less in thickness (less than 0.0079 inches) in reels weighing more than 25 pounds and that is not backed.  The determination does not cover etched capacitor foil or foil that has been cut to shape.  Certain aluminum foil is used extensively in food and pharmaceutical packaging, household foil, thermal insulation, cables, electronics, and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (“HVAC”) applications and other heat transfer products where properties such as light weight, resistance to corrosion, and formability are desired.  
 
The Aluminum Association Trade Enforcement Working Group is represented in these actions by John M. Herrmann, Brooke M. Ringel, David C. Smith, Melissa M. Brewer, Elizabeth C. Johnson, and Joshua R. Morey of the law firm Kelley Drye & Warren LLP. 

 

Media Contact

Matt Meenan
mmeenan@aluminum.org
703-358-2977

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About The Aluminum Association
The Aluminum Association represents aluminum production and jobs in the United States, ranging from primary production to value added products to recycling, as well as suppliers to the industry. The association is the industry’s leading voice, representing companies that make 70% of the aluminum and aluminum products shipped in North America. The association develops global standards, business intelligence, sustainability research and industry expertise for member companies, policymakers and the general public. The aluminum industry helps manufacturers produce sustainable and innovative products, including more fuel-efficient vehicles, recyclable packaging, greener buildings and modern electronics.  In the U.S., the aluminum industry supports $176 billion in economic activity and more than 634,000 jobs. For more information visit https://www.aluminum.org or find us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook or Instagram. 

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