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.

• 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.

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