Part 7/9:
The recent push for local aluminum production has reignited discussions around job creation within the U.S. aluminum industry. A figure worth noting is that for every aluminum smelting job in Canada, approximately 13 jobs in the U.S. are supported. However, the current environment of declining domestic smelting capacity raises concerns about the sustainability of these jobs.
Chinese dominance in aluminum production – a consequence of strategic governmental policies and subsidies – has shifted the balance of global supply. With the effective tariff on aluminum imports impacting competition, U.S. manufacturers face challenges not just from pricing, but from a lag in smelting innovations compared to their Chinese counterparts.