U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) recently asked that certain aluminum market segments be exempt from an investigation into aluminum trade practices to help shield consumers from price increases and to protect jobs.
Gardner and U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) led a bipartisan group of senators in requesting the exemptions in a letter to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and Defense Secretary James Mattis.
President Donald Trump initiated the investigation in April through a presidential memorandum to determine if aluminum imports endanger national security. The senators acknowledged that that investigation is permitted under the Trade Expansion Act, but they raised concerns about its potential impact on U.S. jobs and prices for consumer products.
“We are concerned, however, that the scope of this investigation could include aluminum that has no national security application, such as rolled can sheet, used to make aluminum cans and bottles, and primary aluminum, used to make rolled can sheet, food and beverage containers, lids, and closures,” the letter states. “Primary aluminum that is made into rolled can sheet is largely sourced from Canada. Because of this, companies that use these products depend on imports in order to make aluminum cans and bottles.”
The letter notes that the United States has allowed a trade deficit on primary aluminum for decades due to the importance of the raw material in producing consumer products and the lack of availability in the United States.
The lawmakers also noted that the results of the investigation could have a major impact on Colorado’s beer industry.
“Import restrictions or tariffs on these products could increase consumer prices, add hundreds of millions in costs for companies in the beverage industry, and potentially affect American manufacturing jobs in industries that rely on these products,” the letter concludes.