EU Free Trade Agenda: Why Maintaining Import Tariffs on Aluminium Is Essential
This position paper sets out the rationale for excluding aluminium (Chapter 76 of the Harmonised System) from tariff-liberalisation commitments in the ongoing Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations with India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
While the European Union (EU) aluminium industry recognises the broader objective of FTAs to remove trade barriers, including tariffs, European Aluminium believes that exemptions are necessary in specific cases to ensure trade remains not only free, but also fair. This note outlines the key reasons why aluminium products should be excluded from tariff liberalisation in any potential FTAs with India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the UAE.