Global Trade
February 23, 2025
The possible shift in U.S. aluminum imports
Written by Gabriella Vagnini
The 25% tariff on aluminum imports, implementing in Q1 2025, has completely shifted global trade flows. With country specific exemptions gone, Canada and Mexico are feeling the hit. With the playing field now level, the assumption was that the UAE and India would fill the gap, but now, Ukraine may be the wild card that entered the conversation in a major way.
And here’s the biggest twist, while Biden pushed for stronger trade ties with Canada and the EU, Trump’s return has thrown that plan out the window. Instead, his administration is floating a game changing move: sourcing alumina from Ukraine, potentially replacing Canada and Mexico as the U.S.’s primary raw material supplier.
