Category: Trade Policy and Tariffs

The heads of the Canadian and US aluminum trade associations are calling on leaders to cool off and return to tariff negotiations.

And there certainly was no shortage of things to talk about. Tariffs, geopolitics, domestic production trends, data center construction, and scrap availability were just some of the topics getting the spotlight.

Canadian aluminum exports to the US have continued to drop since the tariff rate increased to 25% in March 2025, with a growing share shipping off to Europe and Mexico. The tariff rate has since spiked to 50%.

The breakdown in the US-Canada talks underscores one of the least talked about problems with tariffs. Imposing them is relatively easy (provided they are not overturned by the courts). But when it comes to removing them? A number of industries have grown accustomed to the protection tariffs afford. They will fight tooth and nail to keep them in place. Politicians usually buckle under this backlash, and we suspect this is what happened here.

The tentative trade pact would lower tariffs on some steel and aluminum products from 50% to 25%.

We generally saw less hectic conditions in the various markets this past week as the lack of significant geopolitical or macro headlines kept volatility somewhat at bay.

Commerce opened circumvention inquiries into disposable aluminum container imports from Malaysia and Indonesia while earlier Vietnam and Thailand cases continue toward final determinations.

Commerce issued preliminary antidumping duty determinations on Mexican and Canadian van-type trailer imports, with Mexico receiving higher preliminary margins.

The project is expected to break ground later this year.

It grants the commerce secretary the authority to take "all appropriate action" under the law to secure these materials, including export restrictions.