Tariff whiplash: 50% tariffs join the melt mix
Just when we thought we’d get a breather from tariffs news, President Trump has announced his intention to double tariffs on aluminum imports to 50% effective June 4th.
Tag: Import
The courts pause Trump tariffs…. more uncertainty
Has Section 232 survived the latest legal challenge?
Liberation Day denied: Court overrules IEEPA tariffs
A federal trade court found that Trump’s use of the International Emergency Economic Power Act (IEEPA) to justify tariffs early April and dubbed the “Liberation Day” tariffs was unconstitutional.
West Coast port congestion
West Coast congestion returns as tariff chaos fuels container surge.
Billet Market Starts to Move Higher
The billet market has been quiet in 2025 so far, but extruders exposed to the spot market are now facing some challenges.
Container bookings and prices surge
Average bookings for the seven days ended on May 14th skyrocketed, which could cause bottlenecks, as containers getting stripped and shipped from the Los Angeles/Long Beach ports
The downside of the US-China tariff rollback: Container lines’ price hikes
The container lines operating in this shipping lane were quick to respond to the expected surge in freight demand.
Middle East trades and the $4 billion smelter for Oklahoma
Since March 21 when UAE announced plans to invest $1.4 trillion in the US, including an aluminum smelter, the market has been waiting for details. Now, we have some.
Small deal, sharp edge: Litho sheet finds its niche in trade pact
Litho sheet is typically costly and a rare grade of scrap to come by. Unlike other more specific alloys, like 6061 or 5052, it can be consumed by just about anyone or added to just about any melt mix.
Tariff time out: US and China pause punitive measures
Since the aluminum market is subject to Section 232 tariffs of 25%, regardless of source, and which supersedes the 10% tariff, it would bring the effective tariff rate on aluminum products brought into the US from China to 45%.