(Washington DC, Brussels Belgium, Montreal Canada, Tokyo Japan — 9 December 2021)

The aluminium associations of the United States, Europe, Canada and Japan welcome the commitment of Ministers to “…renew their Trilateral partnership to address the global challenges posed by non-market policies and practices of third countries that undermine and negatively affect our workers and businesses.

In a joint statement on 30 November 2021, Ambassador Katherine Tai, United States Trade Representative, Mr. Hagiuda Koichi, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan, and Mr. Valdis Dombrovskis, Executive Vice President of the European Commission, agreed to focus their efforts on identifying problems due to non-market practices, gaps in existing enforcement tools, and areas where further work is needed to develop rules to address non-market practices.

In welcoming the renewal of the Trilateral partnership, Gerd Götz, Director General of European Aluminium, Ryan Olsen, Vice President for Market Growth & Development of The Aluminum Association, Jean Simard, President & CEO of the Aluminium Association of Canada and Yasushi Noto, Executive Director of the Japan Aluminium Association said:

“We fully support this partnership and stand ready to contribute to its success. The aluminium industry across our regions is already working together to ensure that we have the best available information on the sources and the impacts of international market distortions.”

“Non-market policies and practices are eroding industrial ecosystems and driving out resilient supply chains in strategic sectors across the US, Europe, Canada and Japan. The 2 million direct and indirect jobs that our companies support are at risk.”

Besides the disastrous economic effects, the environmental costs of excessive state support are enormous. Subsidies along the aluminium value chain primarily encourage extraction, production, processing, and export in high GHG emitting production systems. By displacing output from low GHG emitting production systems subsidies contribute to a much higher carbon footprint globally. And by reducing returns and growth opportunities for unsubsidized production systems, subsidies discourage needed private investment and innovation, including in initiatives to decarbonize the sector.

“Our member companies are committed to producing aluminium responsibly; we are seeking a global level playing field, open to competition in free and fair markets. This is the only way to provide good jobs, contribute to community well-being, sustain the environment, and decarbonize the sector. And we are poised to contribute to building the modern trade rules that will get us there.”

About The Aluminum Association

The Aluminum Association represents aluminum production and jobs in the United States, ranging from primary production to value added products to recycling, as well as suppliers to the industry. The association is the industry’s leading voice, representing companies that make 70 percent of the aluminum and aluminum products shipped in North America. The association develops global standards, business intelligence, sustainability research and industry expertise for member companies, policymakers and the general public. The aluminum industry helps manufacturers produce sustainable and innovative products, including more fuel-efficient vehicles,

recyclable packaging, greener buildings and modern electronics. In the US, the aluminum industry supports $172 billion in economic activity and nearly 660,000 jobs. For more information visit https://www.aluminum.org or find us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook or Instagram.

About European Aluminium

European Aluminium, founded in 1981 and based in Brussels, is the voice of the aluminium industry in Europe. We actively engage with decision makers and the wider stakeholder community to promote the outstanding properties of aluminium, secure growth and optimise the contribution our metal can make to meeting Europe’s sustainability challenges. Through environmental and technical expertise, economic and statistical analysis, scientific research, education and sharing of best practices, public affairs and communication activities, European Aluminium promotes the use of aluminium as a material with permanent properties that is part of the solution to achieving sustainable goals, while maintaining and improving the image of the industry, of the material and of its applications among their stakeholders. Our 95+ members include primary aluminium producers; downstream manufacturers of extruded, rolled and cast aluminium; producers of recycled aluminium and national aluminium associations are representing more than 600 plants in 30 European countries. Aluminium products are used in a wide range of markets, including automotive, transport, high-tech engineering, building, construction and packaging. For more information visit www.european-aluminium.eu.

About the Aluminium Association of Canada (www.aluminum.ca/en)

The Aluminium Association of Canada (AAC) is a non-profit organization representing three Canadian world- class aluminium producers: Alcoa, Alouette, and Rio Tinto operating nine smelters in Canada, eight of which are in Quebec, and employing over 8,800 workers and generating over 5.5 billion US$ in annual deliveries. For more information, visit http://www.aluminium.ca or Twitter @AAC_aluminium.

About Japan Aluminium Association

Japan Aluminium Association (JAA) was established in 1947 (the former names were the Light Metal Rolling Association and Light Metal Smelting Association of Japan). Now, around 140 companies join in JAA, their business fields are various from aluminium fabrication, aluminium remelting and trading, etc. JAA represents Japanese aluminium industry and plays very important role for such as in public relations (including conveying industry voices to the government), research & development, energy & environment, safety & health and so on. Through these activities, JAA tries to enhance values and sustainability of aluminium. For more information visit http://www.aluminum.or.jp/english/.

Contacts

The Aluminum Association

Matt Meenan, Senior Director of External Affairs, mmeenan@aluminum.org, T: 703-358-2977

European Aluminium

Kelly Roegies, Manager Communications, roegies@european-aluminium.eu, M: +32 471 80 20 98

Aluminium Association of Canada

Jean Simard, President and CEO, jsimard@aluminium.ca, M: 514-825-6593

Japan Aluminium Association

Yasushi Noto, Executive Director, y-noto@alkyo.jp, T: 81-3-3538-0221