The Aluminum Association has applauded the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) for beginning its 332 investigation into the global aluminum industry and the competitiveness of U.S. producers. The federal trade agency announced it has officially launched its investigation, “Aluminum: Competitive Conditions Affecting the U.S. Industry.”
For U.S. producers, overcapacity, particularly in China, is of paramount concern to the aluminum industry. While the demand for aluminum is growing globally, and is particularly strong in North America, the Aluminum Association expressed concern about growing overcapacity in China and questionable trading practices. Aluminum producers in the U.S. have been hurt by these practices, and have urged the U.S. government to investigate these issues, according to the Association.
USITC will report on factors of competition in major unwrought and wrought (semi-fabricated) aluminum producing and exporting countries, including the U.S. The USITC will examine industry characteristics, recent trade trends and developments, competitive strengths and weakness, factors driving unwrought-production capacity increases, and government policies that affect aluminum production and exports in these countries.
The Aluminum Association said it would be actively engaged with their membership throughout this process to ensure that the USITC has the best available information to produce an accurate and credible report.
The USITC plans to host a public hearing on the investigation on September 29, 2016. The agency is also welcoming written submissions for the record. Written submissions should be addressed to the Secretary of the Commission and should be submitted at the earliest practical date, but no later than 5:15 p.m. on February 21, 2017. All written submissions, except for confidential business information, will be available for public inspection.
The final report will be released in June 2017.