USW looks for immediate relief in aluminum sector

The president of the Pittsburgh-based United Steelworkers (USW) Intl., Leo W. Gerard, has released a statement after the White House confirmed that it has received the Section 232 report on aluminum from the Department of Commerce.

In April 2017 the Department of Commerce initiated an investigation under Section 232 of U.S. trade law to determine whether imports of aluminum were damaging national security. The President, upon receipt of the report, has up to 90 days to take and action and determine whether action to "adjust imports" should be taken.

"Workers in the aluminum sector make products vital to our national security and critical infrastructure. They have had to bear repeated attacks on their industry and jobs largely by state-supported global producers who do not care about market economics. Twenty-three smelters produced aluminum in the U.S. in 2000, making the U.S. one of the world's largest producers. Today, there are only five smelters, and only two of them are producing at capacity. Roughly 75 percent of the jobs in the sector have been lost since 2003,” said Gerard.

"Aluminum is a key material used in missiles, munitions, airframes, the electrical grid, and countless other applications. Last April workers were told that an expedited investigation would occur, but action was delayed. The White House has received the Commerce Department study, and we are hoping it recognizes, as all Americans do, the importance of aluminum production to our nation. The USW looks for comprehensive and effective relief that will be implemented quickly. The country cannot afford to wait much longer."