Core Points - The Aluminum Association, representing over 120 companies and 70% of North America's aluminum producers, emphasizes the importance of aluminum in various industries and its role in the U.S. manufacturing sector [2] - The association highlights the significant job creation in the aluminum industry, directly employing over 164,000 Americans and supporting an additional 500,000 jobs through the supply chain [2] - The association's president, Charles Johnson, will present at a congressional hearing to discuss the impact of the USMCA agreement on the aluminum industry and the need for further actions to combat subsidized aluminum imports from China [3][4] Industry Challenges - Chinese subsidized aluminum continues to flood North America, particularly through Mexico, undermining the achievements of the U.S. aluminum industry [3] - Exports of Chinese aluminum to Mexico and Canada have surged by over 300% since 2017, with specific increases of over 470% to Mexico and nearly 90% to Canada, equivalent to the capacity of a large U.S. rolling mill [3] - Without intervention, the U.S. risks becoming merely an "assembly base," which could have severe implications for the labor market, community development, and national security [3] Recommendations for Policy Action - The Aluminum Association suggests that Mexico should implement a comprehensive aluminum import monitoring system to track the origin of all aluminum products, fulfilling a commitment made in 2019 [3] - It calls for unified tariff standards among the three countries to close loopholes that allow subsidized aluminum from non-market economies to enter duty-free [3] - Strengthening origin rules is recommended, ensuring that products containing aluminum from China and other non-market economies do not benefit from trade agreement advantages [3][4] Additional Measures - The association advocates for the free flow of scrap aluminum within North America while preventing its diversion to non-market economies like China, as scrap is crucial for new capacity [4] - It urges the government to utilize Section 232 authority to address unfair trade practices related to downstream products containing subsidized aluminum [4] - The overarching goal is to ensure that the renewed and strengthened USMCA creates a fair competitive environment for manufacturers and workers in North America [4]