The largest aluminum exporters (including aluminum fabrications) to the United States in 2024 were Canada, China, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, and South Korea.
From around the world, U.S. imports of these goods grew at a year-over-year rate of 0.1% in 2024, to $27.44 billion.
Aluminum Exporters
This Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump reported imposing a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports from any country.
Below are the top exporters of aluminum, including aluminum manufactures, to the U.S. market in 2024. Data, expressed in millions of dollars and year-over-year growth rates, are from the Department of Commerce.
- Canada: 11,370 (+2.3 percent).
- China: 2,880 (+12.0 percent).
- Mexico: 1,830 (-5.7 percent).
- United Arab Emirates: 1,200 (-20.9 percent).
- South Korea: 930 (+49.2 percent).
U.S. imports
In addition to controls on steel and aluminum imports, other regulatory tools are in place to support these industries. The United States applies restrictions to protect domestic producers and limit the volume of imports into its market.
Since the late 1970s, steel has been subject to various forms of protection, while aluminum has faced restrictions since the early 2010s. Despite these measures, a significant portion of the market continues to rely on imports in both sectors.
When he was president of the United States, Donald Trump imposed tariffs of 25% on steel and 10% on aluminum on most of its trading partners in March 2018. Then, in January 2020, he expanded these measures to include certain downstream goods.
Some nations obtained permanent exemptions in exchange for quotas. Brazil and South Korea were excluded for steel, while Argentina obtained exemptions on both steel and aluminum. Australia faced none of these tariffs. Later, Trump eliminated tariffs for Canada and Mexico, implementing a joint monitoring and consultation system.
During Joe Biden’s tenure, the United States reached agreements with the European Union, Japan and the United Kingdom. Instead of tariffs, tariff quota systems were established.