Century Aluminum has welcomed a new executive order from Donald Trump aimed at closing a tariff loophole affecting aluminium imports, a move the company says will strengthen fair competition in the domestic market.

Announced on April 2, the order maintains the existing 50% Section 232 tariff on primary aluminium while clarifying how import values must be declared. Specifically, it requires importers to report the full value of aluminium products, including any additional processing, rather than declaring only the base metal value. This change addresses concerns that some importers had been understating product value to reduce the duties owed.

According to Century Aluminum, such practices had placed US manufacturers at a disadvantage, despite the tariffs being designed to protect domestic production. The updated guidance is intended to ensure more consistent enforcement across the aluminium supply chain and prevent misuse of the system.

Chief executive Jesse Gary said the company supports the measure, describing it as an important step in upholding trade rules and ensuring accountability among foreign suppliers. He noted that maintaining the full tariff framework without exemptions reinforces its intended impact.

The company also stated that, since the tariffs were reinforced, it has increased US aluminium production and committed significant investment toward expanding capacity, reflecting growing confidence in the domestic industry’s outlook.