Losers expected on both sides of US tariffs on aluminium imports

Aluminium Deutschland (AD) has said that the German aluminium industry is watching the increase in tariffs on imports of aluminium goods and certain derivatives into the US to 25% with concern.

This step comes as no surprise, AD says, but nevertheless, this measure puts established and trusted cooperation between companies on both sides of the Atlantic under considerable strain. According to the presidential decree of 11 February, the import quotas for aluminium, which the EU and the US, among others, agreed on at the end of 2021, will also be ended and replaced by tariffs of 25% from 12 March.

Rob van Gils, president of Aluminium Deutschland (AD), emphasised: “It is now up to the European Commission to enter into a constructive dialogue with the US administration. We must avoid a trade policy escalation. It harms everyone involved.”

In 2024, an estimated 51,000 tons of aluminium products were delivered from German plants to customers in the US (15,000 tons of rolled products, 12,000 tons of extruded products, 24,000 tons of aluminium foil). This corresponds to 2% of annual production in Germany. In the last ten years, German aluminium producers have almost halved their exports to the US (-45%).

Van Gils continued: “Even if the quantities exported from Germany are comparatively small, the measures are hitting our companies at an already tense time. We must also pay close attention to possible diversion effects from third countries to the European Union. These have the potential to cause significantly greater damage to domestic companies. The Commission must be prepared for this eventuality and ready to act.”