Aluminium Industry Calls for new North America Body

Three major aluminium bodies are calling for a new overarching body to cover the aluminium trade in North America.

The Aluminium Association in the US, Mexico’s Instituto Mexicano del Aluminio and the Aluminium Association of Canada have called for the creation of a North American Aluminium Trade Committee (NAATC), in a letter sent to trade officials in the three countries.

Their move comes ahead of a summit in Ottawa that will discuss the importance of fair aluminium trade in North America, as well as strengthened trade enforcement.  

The Aluminum Association represents aluminium production and jobs in the US, ranging from primary production and value-added products to recycling, as well as suppliers to the industry. It represents companies that make 70% of the aluminium and aluminium products shipped in North America.

The Aluminum Association of Canada promotes the sustainable growth of the industry, advocates for its interests, and fosters collaboration among stakeholders. 

The Instituto Mexicano del Aluminio serves as a platform for collaboration between industry players, government agencies and academia to advance research, technology, and best practices in the aluminium sector.

North America aluminium body to 'foster collaboration'

The three bodies say that NAATC would help to formalise consultation and collaboration between the countries’ aluminium industries and their respective governments, by bringing together government, industry and non-governmental stakeholders to discuss issues and quickly identify and address challenges in the domestic market. 

This, they say, is essential to seek reduction and elimination of remaining distortions in North America driven by unfair aluminium trade. 

The letter says: “The free and fair trade of aluminium within North America has benefited our respective industries and the hundreds of thousands of well-paying manufacturing jobs they represent. 

“We stand together in our continued commitment to the USMCA framework to set the conditions through which aluminium can be freely and fairly traded in the region. 

“Looking ahead to the 2026 review of the USMCA, we are confident that the issues we have identified can and will be addressed to ensure continued cooperative trade in the region.”