Wyden Praises New Enforcement Action Against Illegal Chinese Subsidies for Aluminum

WASHINGTON – Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., praised the U.S. Trade Representative’s move to bring a trade case against Chinese aluminum subsidies today.

“China has used every play in the book to give its aluminum producers an unfair advantage, from below market loans to subsidized electricity, and America’s aluminum industry has been decimated as a result,” Wyden said. “I welcome today’s action by the Obama Administration to enforce America’s rights on behalf of the hundreds of thousands of hardworking Americans whose livelihoods depend on undistorted aluminum markets.  Now it is up to the Trump Administration to follow through aggressively and deliver real results and real jobs for these hard-hit American communities.”

The United States today announced that it is bringing a challenge at the World Trade Organization to Chinese measures that have harmed U.S. producers of primary aluminum.  Senator Wyden has long fought for fairness for American aluminum producers facing the fallout from China’s domestic support to its industry.  Those policies contributed to unabated growth in Chinese aluminum capacity that in turn led to a precipitous decline in aluminum prices, causing more than half of U.S. mills to close their doors within five years.  In April 2016, Senator Wyden joined United Steelworkers President Leo Girard in highlighting the challenges faced by the U.S. industry and calling for action.  In October, he joined several other Senators in requesting that the United States bring a WTO case on aluminum. 

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