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Alcoa Warns Trump’s Aluminum Tariffs Could Threaten 100,000 U.S. Jobs

The proposed 25% tariff on aluminum imports, set to begin in March, could harm U.S. workers and industries reliant on Canadian aluminum, says Alcoa CEO.

Bill Oplinger, chief executive officer of Alcoa Corp., speaks during a Bloomberg Television interview in Sydney, Australia, on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024.
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Overview

  • Alcoa CEO William Oplinger estimates the tariffs would eliminate 20,000 direct U.S. aluminum jobs and 80,000 indirect jobs across related industries.
  • The U.S. imports approximately 4 million metric tons of aluminum annually, with 2.8 million tons sourced from Canada, a critical supplier due to lower production costs.
  • The proposed tariffs include a 25% levy on aluminum and steel imports and an additional 10% tariff on Canadian energy and critical minerals, potentially stacking to a 35% total for aluminum imports.
  • Alcoa is lobbying the Trump administration to exempt Canadian aluminum from the tariffs, citing the significant reliance of U.S. industries on Canadian supply.
  • The tariffs could lead to higher costs for U.S. consumers and businesses, while risking retaliatory trade measures from other countries, according to industry experts.