The Biden administration just announced the imposition of a 200 percent tariff on aluminum imports from Russia, one of the world’s largest aluminum producers and exporters.
The tariff was imposed based on national security considerations under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962.
While the Russian tariffs may legitimately be related to national security considerations, unfortunately, the administration continues to impose “national security” tariffs and quotas on aluminum produced by many U.S. allies, including Ukraine, Germany, England, Japan, and Korea. Only four countries are exempt from U.S. import restraints: Argentina, Australia, Canada and Mexico. Aluminum from everywhere else is subject to either a 10 percent tariff or tariff-rate quotas.
Imports from our allies do not threaten U.S. national security, they make us stronger. The Biden administration should strengthen our ties with countries that share our concerns about Russia’s actions by eliminating counterproductive “national security” tariffs on aluminum supplied to Americans by U.S. friends and allies.