The Aluminum Extruders Council and United Steelworkers have made a formal complaint about unfair practices in the aluminum industry, the RV Industry Association (RVIA) reported.
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, the group states.
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 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.
The International Trade Commission (USITC) will look into the complaint. Companies who want to get involved in the investigation have a short time to do so. There will be a hearing on Oct. 25, and the USITC must make an initial decision on the matter by Nov. 20.
This could have a big impact on the RV industry and others that use aluminum in their products. For questions or if you have received a questionnaire about this from the ITC, RVIA said to contact Samantha Rocci, senior manager of government affairs, at srocci@rvia.org.