The United States and Japan on Monday announced a deal to remove Trump-era tariffs from about 1.25 million metric tons of Japanese steel.

The new deal, which excludes aluminium, will take effect on April 1 and requires Japan to take “concrete steps” to fight global excess steel manufacturing capacity, largely centered in China.

Charles Johnson, president & CEO of the Aluminum Association, released the following statement in response to the agreement announced between the United States and Japan replacing Section 232 tariffs on steel with a tariff rate quota.

It read: “The Aluminum Association appreciates that the Biden administration is not pursuing a one-size-fits-all trade policy for steel and aluminium. We continue to believe that a gradual rollback of Section 232 tariffs currently in effect on market-oriented trading partners is preferable to a tariff rate quota. 

“While today’s announcement does not address aluminium tariffs, we look forward to working with the administration on negotiated agreements with Japan and other countries that recognise the unique position of aluminium in the marketplace.”