U.S., EU Aluminum Associations Highlight Need for Global Arrangement that Addresses Both Decarbonization, Non-Market Behavior

JULY 19, 2023    

Groups urge policymakers to reach a deal by October 2023

The Aluminum Association and European Aluminum sent a joint letter to U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and EU Executive Vice-President and Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis ahead of continued discussions on the Global Arrangement on Sustainable Steel and Aluminum (Global Arrangement) in Belgium July 20-21.

“The U.S. aluminum industry has announced more domestic investment over the past two years than the prior several decades combined,” said Charles Johnson, president & CEO of the Aluminum Association. “That’s why it is so important that the U.S. government reaches a politically sustainable arrangement with the EU to support continued growth of low carbon aluminum production here at home. We appreciate the work of Ambassador Tai and the full USTR team on this issue and look forward to continued engagement." 

The letter underscores the need for the Global Arrangement to address both decarbonization and market behavior to best support the aluminum industry on both sides of the Atlantic.  

The letter states: 

“As trade relations deteriorate worldwide, any restrictions among long-standing and responsible partners will only harm aluminum producers worldwide. A well-designed [Global Arrangement] agreement should recognize and incentivize the low carbon, market-driven aluminum industries in [Global Arrangement] party countries ensuring a level-playing field within the GSA as regards climate-related costs. Further, the agreement should set reasonable targets and benchmarks for non-party countries so that they can join the agreement, or face measures for high carbon, non-competitive imports. This will ensure that non-party countries do not jeopardize aluminum production in [Global Arrangement] member countries.”

The association leaders also stressed the importance of “timely and effective delivery” of the Global Arrangement by October 2023.