PRESS RELEASE
DUTIES, CONSERVA (FACE): EUROPE SHOULD RESPOND TO TRUMP’S STRATEGY WITH COMPETITIVENESS
“EU SHOULD REMOVE RAW ALUMINIUM DUTIES THAT HARM THE ENTIRE MANUFACTURING SECTOR”
“The recent announcements from the United States and China regarding duties once again highlight the negative effects of pseudo-protectionist policies that harm both industry and consumers. The result is a mix of inflation and business failures. If the duties announced by the United States are implemented, they will undoubtedly have a negative impact on the industrial sector, increase costs for consumers, and destabilize the international system. China has responded with similar countermeasures, triggering an escalation that will further harm global trade and lead to a dangerous fragmentation of world markets. Permanent uncertainty and increasing risks will characterize 2025. In this worrying scenario, Europe should not follow Trump’s approach but instead move in the opposite direction by fostering a free market for raw materials, which are the foundation of industry and competitiveness. For example, the EU should remove import duties on raw aluminium, which for too many years have been creating a self-destructive overcost in our manufacturing sector.”
This was stated by Mario Conserva, President of FACE (the Federation of Aluminium Consumers in Europe), emphasizing that the EU’s current import duties on raw aluminium penalize the entire downstream aluminium supply chain, reducing the competitiveness of European companies in the sector.
According to FACE estimates, the EU duty system on raw aluminium results in an additional cost of over €1 billion per year for processors and end users, without bringing any benefit to domestic primary metal production. “After two decades of continuous closures and relocations, EU primary aluminium production has dramatically declined, to the point that today the EU depends on imports for over 87% of its consumption.”
“The result,” Conserva continues, “is a loss of competitiveness for European companies, which are forced to pay higher prices for raw materials than their international competitors. This goes against any logic of sustainable and innovative industrial development.”
“We call on the European Commission and EU governments to immediately review the aluminium duty policy and adopt measures that support, rather than hinder, the sector’s growth. Maintaining absurd import duties on raw aluminium – a strategic material for the EU – has created extreme vulnerability for our companies, especially now that, in addition to global challenges, we must deal with the United States’ coercive and chaotic policies. At a time of maximum uncertainty and increasing risks, we cannot afford misguided decisions on raw materials, duties, or supply restrictions that could jeopardize the future of European industry and its role in an increasingly aggressive and brutal global context.”
“In times of trade wars and geopolitical turmoil,” Conserva concludes, “the only effective and sustainable response is strengthening our economy. Liberalizing, rather than restricting, raw aluminium supply is vital for the resilience and strategic autonomy of the European Union.”
The press release is available here.
