WASHINGTON, February 24. /TASS/. US President Joe Biden has decided to impose 200-percent tariffs on the import of aluminum articles from Russia, according to a document published on the White House’s website on Friday.
"To further reduce imports of aluminum articles and increase domestic capacity utilization, I have determined that it is necessary and appropriate to impose, beginning on March 10, 2023, a 200% ad valorem tariff on aluminum articles that are the product of Russia and derivative aluminum articles that are the product of Russia; and, beginning on April 10, 2023, a 200% ad valorem tariff on aluminum articles where any amount of primary aluminum used in the manufacture of the aluminum articles is smelted in Russia, or the aluminum articles are cast in Russia, and derivative aluminum articles where any amount of primary aluminum used in the manufacture of the derivative aluminum articles is smelted in Russia, or the derivative aluminum articles are cast in Russia," the document reads.
"I recognize that concerns about aluminum imports from Russia and their impact on our national security are shared by other countries <...> Any country that imposes a tariff of 200% or more on its imports of aluminum articles that are products of Russia may be exempt from the tariff imposed by this proclamation," the document added.
According to the document, "Russia is among the major exporters of aluminum to the United States for domestic consumption" and "remains the fifth largest source of imported aluminum in the United States, and the imports of aluminum from Russia have increased in both 2021 and 2022." The White House added that Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine "caused global energy prices to rise, causing direct harm to the United States aluminum industry."