As the United States and Iran exchange strikes amid peace negotiations, recent economic disruptions caused by the conflict highlight how vulnerable key commodity markets are to geopolitical tensions. Aside from oil, domestic supply of commodities essential for our national security, such as steel and aluminum, has been put at risk, making self-reliance more necessary than ever.
During my time in Congress as a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, it became clear to me that the U.S. must create and sustain the industrial base necessary to support our national security. Domestic aluminum production is particularly urgent. It is a vital material for our fighter jets — like those I flew in more than 30 combat missions during the Iraq War — armored vehicles, naval systems, and the U.S. aircraft carriers I landed on over 300 times.
During my time in uniform, reliability was never optional. If a critical component used by the Department of War depended on a fragile or contested route, it was flagged as a risk. That same logic applies here. Today, the U.S. may once again fall into the trap of becoming heavily dependent on imported aluminum, with much of the metal originating in the Middle East, India, and other countries. Even our Canadian import sources are increasingly vulnerable as Canada exports more of its metal to other countries and produces little to no high-purity military-grade aluminum. The U.S. and our warfighters are almost entirely dependent on Middle East producers for this metal.
During his first term, President Donald Trump imposed Section 232 national security tariffs on imports of aluminum and steel. However, these critical tariffs were eroded by former President Joe Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris, who granted reckless tariff exemptions to foreign countries like Canada, Mexico, and Australia, whose socialist governments don’t share American values.
The problem doesn’t just lie with our leftist neighbors to the north subsidizing their manufacturing industry to try and sink ours. Foreign adversaries like Communist China also figured out how to game the Biden autopen system using our neighbors to the south. For too long, foreign regimes have exploited this vulnerability by dumping subsidized aluminum into the U.S. from Mexico without paying duties.
Fortunately, upon his historic reelection, Trump took decisive action again by imposing a Section 232 tariff on aluminum, raising the rate to 50%. Now, for the first time in years, there is a tangible path toward rebuilding domestic aluminum supply that will make America safer and stronger.
Rigorous reinvestment is finally returning to America, as Century Aluminum and Emirates Global Aluminum are constructing the first new aluminum smelter in over 50 years in Oklahoma, creating over 5,000 new American jobs and more than doubling our production capacity. In South Carolina, Century Aluminum is investing $65 million to restart idled capacity, which is creating hundreds of good-paying jobs and increasing U.S. aluminum production by 10%. In Alabama, a brand-new, $5 billion Novelis aluminum rolling mill is being constructed, which will bring 1,000 new American jobs to the community.
Trump’s national security tariffs are working. However, foreign importers are working overtime to cheat the system. Mexico is pushing for an extreme reduction in the tariff rate or country-specific exemption, which will kill off tens of thousands of U.S. steel and aluminum across America’s heartland.
If Mexico and Canada get a tariff reduction or exemption, we will repeat the same mistakes of the past. Billions of dollars and American manufacturing jobs will flood out of America, directly to foreign producers. Aside from being an economic issue, this also represents a clear and present danger to U.S. national security. These new investments in our national security will be endangered before they have the chance to get up and running. We cannot rely on foreign metals from countries that chant “Death to America” to manufacture our weapons systems and military equipment.
IRAN WAR DISRUPTS GLOBAL ALUMINUM SUPPLY, PROLONGING SHORTAGES FOR MONTHS
A nation that cannot produce its own critical metals and minerals is a nation that has accepted unnecessary risk. Aluminum may not dominate headlines in the way energy does, but in a crisis, its absence would be felt just as quickly. Supply chains that look efficient in peacetime can and will break under pressure.
Under Trump’s leadership, the U.S. has finally begun treating industrial capacity as a matter of national security. As United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement negotiations approach, it is critical to maintain the 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum without exemptions for nations where we have lopsided trade imbalances and governments that are basing their policies on emotion rather than common business sense. Maintaining Trump’s strong national security tariffs, without foreign handouts, is how we fortify the homeland and truly make America great for years to come.
Mike Garcia is a former combat naval aviator, a businessman, and a former member of Congress, having served on the Appropriations Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. He is currently the CEO of Corner Speed, a national security advisory firm.