Ohio aluminum extruders say they are being undercut by foreign countries, ask Biden for tariffs on imports

WFMJ.com

Local aluminum extrusion manufacturers have gained the support of Ohio senators asking for better protection against foreign companies undercutting their business.

A letter signed by Senator Sherrod Brown and JD Vance to the Biden Administration names a long list of countries that have increased their foreign imports including China, Vietnam and Mexico. The letter claims the availability of imports from these countries caused American producers to lose 11% of their business. 

Aluminum extrusions are found in everyday products from homes to cars to appliances. The product is high in demand but local companies have come together saying they’re seeing less customers because foreign companies are taking their business. 

With the market decline, these companies claim they’ve had to reduce shifts and down size.

“There are a large number of extruders in Ohio,” Robert DeFrancesco, a lawyer for the Wiley Law Group based in Washington D.C said. “I think it’s the first or second largest state for domestic extrusion manufacturing and so they are suffering as a result of the import surge.” 

The Wiley Law Group is representing a coalition – which includes some Mahoning Valley aluminum extrusion manufacturers – in two cases with the Department of Commerce and the International Trade Association. In each case they are asking for the U.S. Government to impose tariffs or extra taxes on aluminum extrusions coming in from other countries to try and get people to buy locally instead. 

They feel without local suppliers the entire country could be at risk.

“In an emergency our ability to supply hospital beds, vital tanks that the US military uses, airplanes, armor applications …  all the things that go into national defense and critical infrastructure … when you need it the most it’s not going to be there,” DeFrancesco said about products made from extruded aluminum.