Alcoa would seem to be in prime position to benefit from President Trump’s aluminum tariffs. The 130-year-old American aluminum producer has in recent years faced stiff competition from overseas.
But on Monday, Alcoa asked the administration for an exemption from the 10 percent tariffs. The reason: The company imports much of its aluminum from its facilities in Canada, which is among the countries subject to Mr. Trump’s metals tariffs.
The Commerce Department imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum earlier this year, saying that imports of foreign metals were degrading the “industrial base” and threatened national security. That move was supposed to help American metal manufacturers, like U.S. Steel and Century Aluminum.
