Global Geopolitical Series: Trump to announce national security decision on aluminum imports in next 90 days

President Trump will announce his decision on aluminum imports in the next three months, which could have far-reaching consequences for the global economy especially China. After his inauguration, the U.S. President Donald Trump asked his Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to take up an investigation to see whether importing aluminum and related products is harmful to the national security of the United States.

Last week on Friday, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross submitted his findings to the President, according to a statement published at Commerce department’s website on Monday, which says, “On Friday, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross formally submitted to President Donald J. Trump the results of the Department’s investigation into the effect of wrought and unwrought aluminum imports on U.S. national security.  After this submission, by law, the President has 90 days to decide on any potential action based on the findings of the investigation.  After the President’s decision is announced, the Department will publish a summary of the report in the Federal Register and make the report available to the public after removing any business confidential or classified material.”

Since the report is not available publicly, it could not be reviewed to analyze the implications or probable decision by President Trump. Any decision that is adverse to the aluminum imports would have significant knock-on effects on aluminum exports of countries tries like China. According to International Aluminium Institute’s data, China is the world’s largest producer of primary aluminum and produces more than 50 percent of the global production. China is also the world’s largest exporter of the metal.