Aluminum Industry Faces Major Trade Investigation With Potential Implications For The RV Industry

The Aluminum Extruders Council (AEC) and United Steelworkers have made a formal complaint about unfair practices in the aluminum industry. They say that companies from 15 countries, including China, Colombia, and India, are selling aluminum products in the United States at very low prices (dumping) and benefiting from subsidies. These unfair practices range from 28% (Dominican Republic) to a whopping 257% (China) in terms of how much they undercut American companies.

This complaint covers a wide range of aluminum products known as aluminum extrusions, no matter their shape, finish, or how they're put together. It even includes things like parts for windows, doors, showers, and car bumpers that have aluminum components. This is a broader complaint than what's been done before against Chinese aluminum products.

What happens next is that the International Trade Commission (USITC) will look into this complaint. Companies who want to get involved in the investigation have a short time to do so. There will be a hearing on October 25, and the USITC must make an initial decision on this matter by November 20, 2023.

This could have a big impact on the RV industry and others that use aluminum in their products. If you have questions or have received a questionnaire about this from the ITC, you should contact Samantha Rocci at srocci@rvia.org right away.