US Primary Aluminum Lobby Presses 50% Tariff as Output Hits 1% of Global Total
Washington – October 16, 2026 -- The United States now produces just 1% of global aluminum, down from industry leadership 25 years ago, according to a study presented by economist Dr. Adam Hersh at an event hosted by the American Primary Aluminum Association (APAA).
Smelter count falls from 23 to four, none military-grade
In 2000, 23 primary aluminum smelters operated in the United States, against 10 in Canada. Four remain in the US, and none can produce military-grade aluminum. The last US smelter capable of making the high-purity aluminum required for many defense applications closed in 2022, leaving the country reliant on foreign sources.
Hersh, a research fellow at the University of Massachusetts, attributed the decline to foreign government subsidies and unfair trade policies. He called the loss of smelting capacity a market failure that exposes the US economy to supply chain disruption.