Israel Imposes Anti-Dumping Tariffs on Aluminum Imports From China
Israel will implement a tariff rate as high as 146 percent on Chinese aluminum imports entering the country.
In July 2024, the Israeli government launched an investigation into evidence that 25 Chinese companies were flooding their domestic market with artificially cheap aluminum products and putting Israeli producers at a disadvantage. Officials declined to wait for the report's conclusion and proceeded with anti-dumping levies.
The Ministry of Economic will impose tariffs on imports of aluminum profiles and rods, ranging from 61 percent to 146 percent.
United Nations
In a May 5 statement
Danny Tal, the ministry's commissioner of levies, defended the move, comparing it to actions to those taken by other countries facing China's dumping of its subsidized exports. For example, the U.S. government maintains an 86 percent import duty on aluminum imports from Beijing .
Related Stories
5/5/2025
5/5/2025
'The policy of the ministry and Minister Barkat is to support a free market without barriers and minimal government intervention but with the caveat of protecting local industry from practices of unfair and illegal trade in international markets,' the ministry said.
Ministry officials noted that its new aluminum tariffs highlight the need for nations to 'protect their producers from unfair trade if they want to survive.'
The Manufacturers Association of Israel supported the decision, writing on the social media platform X that the nation's 'industry must be protected.'
'This is an essential step designed to protect the local manufacturers that support thousands of families and constitute a critical infrastructure for the construction industry,' the organization said in a May 5
This comes soon after Israel removed all remaining levies on imported U.S. products.
Plugging China's Aluminum Flood
For years, the global economy has experienced aluminum dumping activities by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
According to a September 2024
Because of its price advantage, China increased its aluminum exports by 17 percent last year to an all-time high of 6.7 million tons worth about $40 billion.
In December, China abolished its 40-year-old export tax rebate, a program established to make its products more competitive in worldwide markets. Officials say this policy decision was likely in response to the CCP's trade practices coming under intense international scrutiny.
The move could lead to higher cost pressures, since advanced and developing economies have relied on cheap Chinese aluminum products.
'Meanwhile, end-users might also have to face higher costs for their raw material, which could be eventually passed on to consumers. This could have an effect on the automotive, construction, and packaging industries,' Inga Fechner, a senior economist at ING,
However, it could also facilitate a further diversification in international trade.
'In the longer term, this policy change could lead to further shifts in global trade dynamics, benefitting other commodity producers as countries try to diversify their raw material source dependency on China,' she stated.
Meanwhile, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the United States and China were inching closer to trade negotiations.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks to reporters outside the White House in Washington, D.C., on April 9, 2025.
Travis Gillmore/The Epoch Times
'I think we could see substantial progress in the coming weeks. We will see, as I think it's Stein's Law, that which is not sustainable doesn't continue,' Bessent
Stein's Law originates from Herbert Stein, an economist who advised former Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. Appearing before Congress in 1986, when discussing ballooning trade deficits, he stated that 'if something cannot go on forever, it will stop.'
President Donald Trump confirmed to NBC's 'Meet the Press with Kristen Welker' that he could lower levies on China in negotiations for fair trade.
'At some point, I'm going to lower them because otherwise, you could never do business with them, and they want to do business very much,' he said in an interview aired on May 4.
China's Ministry of Commerce announced on May 2 that it is 'evaluating' the White House's offer to engage in trade discussions.
Recent data suggest Trump's tariffs are taking a toll on China's economy, from a sharp slowdown in factory activity to an enormous decline in shipments to the United States.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
33 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Iran Threatens Israel's Nuclear Sites as Trump Blocks Strike Plan
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Iran has threatened to strike Israel's nuclear facilities if attacked, claiming it has gathered extensive intelligence on them. The warning comes as U.S. President Donald Trump told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a 40-minute call that a military strike on Iran "must be taken off the table for now," according to Israeli state media. The exchange highlights widening tensions between the U.S. and Israel, with Netanyahu pushing for a tougher stance while Trump presses for diplomacy—even as he acknowledged Iran's "much more aggressive" behavior. Newsweek has reached out to the State Department as well as the foreign ministries of Iran and Israel for comment. Why It Matters Iran's warning signals a heightened risk of regional conflict involving nuclear infrastructure. For the U.S., which is engaged in delicate nuclear talks with Tehran, the threat complicates its effort to balance deterrence with diplomacy. Israel's concern over Iranian intentions—driven by Tehran's expanding nuclear activity—puts added pressure on the Trump administration's strategy. As Iran moves to leverage intelligence gathered on Israeli facilities, and the U.S. refrains from endorsing military escalation, the situation threatens to widen the gulf between allies and embolden hardliners in both countries. Military personnel parade on National Army Day in Tehran, Iran, on April 18, 2025. Military personnel parade on National Army Day in Tehran, Iran, on April 18, To Know Iran's Supreme National Security Council said that Iranian intelligence services had obtained "a vast quantity of strategic and sensitive information and documents" related to Israel's nuclear infrastructure. The council claimed this intelligence had completed an "operational cycle" enabling Iran's armed forces to target Israeli nuclear sites in response to any Israeli strike on Iranian nuclear facilities. The council warned that "any act of evil against [Iran's] economic and military infrastructure" would result in a "precise and proportionate response." Diplomacy With Tehran On Tuesday, during a call with Netanyahu, Trump emphasized his preference for diplomacy, saying the U.S. had submitted a "reasonable proposal" to Iran and was expecting a response soon. He noted that Iran had become more aggressive in recent negotiations, but talks were ongoing. Netanyahu countered by calling the negotiations futile, accusing Iran of playing for time and urging that a "credible military threat" remain on the table. Trump rejected this stance, insisting that a military strike on Iran "must be taken off the table for now." When Netanyahu sought clarity on whether the U.S. would approve Israeli action if necessary, Trump did not provide a definitive answer. The conversation ended without any breakthrough on Israel's demands, according to Israel's Channel 12 and public broadcaster Kan. President Donald Trump is seen in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., on June 10, 2025. President Donald Trump is seen in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., on June 10, Progress Meanwhile, U.S. State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said the talks with Iran were making some progress despite recent setbacks. She emphasized that negotiations are dynamic, adding that "it would appear that things are moving forward," though not dramatically. She confirmed that another round of talks is expected soon. What People Are Saying Iran's Supreme National Security Council: "These sites would be attacked in response to any Israeli strike on Iran's nuclear infrastructure." U.S. State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce: "It is a dynamic, as it would be with any diplomatic consideration, that negotiations are meant to move things forward and the good news is, is that, in fact, it would appear that things are moving forward, and that's what we all want." What Happens Next Iran is expected to respond to a new U.S. proposal at an upcoming sixth round of nuclear talks, with the location still unconfirmed after earlier sessions in Oman and Italy. Despite mediation efforts, Washington and Tehran remain divided over uranium enrichment—Trump demanding a full halt, while Iran insists on its right to peaceful nuclear energy. With tensions rising and a counterproposal pending from Tehran, the gap between diplomacy and confrontation appears increasingly difficult to bridge.
Axios
37 minutes ago
- Axios
U.S. races to break China's hold on rare earth magnets
While U.S. trade negotiators work to ease an immediate shortage of rare earth magnets from China, the Trump administration is scrambling to line up viable alternatives that would reduce America's reliance on its chief economic rival. Why it matters: Small-but-powerful rare earth magnets are essential to high-tech products, from cars and robots to electronics and weapons. But China controls 90% of the world's supply of the critical components. The contentious trade relationship between the U.S. and China has amplified the economic and security risks of that reliance. Global automakers are "in full panic" that China's limits on rare earth exports will trigger supply chain shocks like the pandemic-related semiconductor shortages that occurred in 2021 and 2022. The big picture: It's not a new problem. U.S. officials have been talking about the need to mitigate American dependence on China for years. China also dominates processing of metals like lithium, cobalt, nickel and graphite used in batteries. The latest: U.S. and Chinese officials met Monday and Tuesday in London to try to iron out their trade issues, amid reports that China was willing to expedite export licenses for U.S. and European automakers if the U.S. loosened export controls on jet engine parts and software. Late Tuesday both sides said they'd reached a framework of a deal, pending approval from both countries' leaders, that would in theory resolve the most recent export issues. Yes, but: There's still an urgency to find alternative sources. President Trump in April called for an investigation into national security risks posed by U.S. reliance on imported processed critical minerals, including rare earth elements. He has also used a series of executive orders to try to bolster domestic supply chains, like fast-tracking environmental reviews for U.S. mining projects. In Congress, meanwhile, rare earth competition with China has galvanized both parties. A spate of bills would create a tax credit for production of high-performance rare earth magnets, use Defense Production Act authority to direct emergency funding, and establish an Energy Department program to finance minerals projects. Two Republicans and two Democrats are pressing legislation that allows the president to strike free trade agreements exclusively focused on critical minerals and rare earth elements. "There is fairly broad bipartisan support around becoming more resilient, especially in areas that invoke national security — and this is clearly one of them," Sen. Todd Young, an Indiana Republican leading that bill, told Axios last month. Zoom in: One deal that's getting a lot of attention is a potential partnership between California-based MP Materials and Saudi Arabia's flagship mining company, Maaden. The deal was inked in May on the sidelines of the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum, coinciding with a broader agreement between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia to cooperate on energy and critical minerals. MP Materials operates California's Mountain Pass, the only rare-earths mine in the U.S., which produces 12% of the global supply. At maximum production, Mountain Pass could yield enough rare earths to supply more than 6 million electric vehicles, the company says. But the bottleneck is magnets, which MP Materials is just beginning to produce. Maaden, a fast-growing, government-controlled mining company, is developing mines for a variety of critical minerals, but doesn't produce rare earths today. What to watch: Together, the companies seek to jointly develop a vertically integrated rare earths supply chain in Saudi Arabia—mining, separation, refining and magnet production—for global consumption. Zoning and environmental regulations in the U.S. make it hard to open a rare earth mine, but Saudi Arabia moves more quickly and is anxious to wean its economy off of oil. Saudi expertise in petrochemical refining can be leveraged for minerals processing, while MP brings experience across the entire rare earths supply chain, including mining, refining and magnet production. Reality check: The preliminary deal is non-binding, so it could still fall apart.
USA Today
38 minutes ago
- USA Today
As trade talks continue, new data shows Chinese imports hit 5-year low
As trade talks continue, new data shows Chinese imports hit 5-year low Show Caption Hide Caption Commerce Secretary Lutnick optimistic about US-China trade talks As delegations from the US and China begin a second day of trade talks, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said things are "going well." Bloomberg As U.S. and Chinese officials hold trade talks this week, new data shows massive tariffs drove Chinese imports to their lowest levels in more than five years. U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods topped out at 145% in April when the Census Bureau collected trade data that showed a continuing decline in Chinese imports from March. In May, the nations agreed to a 90-day pause in mutual triple-digit tariffs ahead of trade talks. Through February and March, overall imports to the U.S. hit record highs as traders anticipated rising tariffs. But under the withering tariff rates President Donald Trump announced on April 2, what he called 'Liberation Day,' that overall import number plunged from more than $340 billion in March to just $273 billion in April. 'People were importing in anticipation of the imposition of tariffs. Then, when he made the Liberation Day announcement, everything collapsed,' said Marcus Noland, executive vice president and director of studies at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, a think tank based in Washington, D.C. 'China is just the best example because when the United States does something, China retaliates. And so that's why we got into the escalatory spiral and ended up with triple-digit tariffs,' Noland added. 'People couldn't import. Some people literally did not have the money to pay the import tariff.' Ocean freight volumes from China to the U.S. fell sharply in April, down 34% from a year earlier, according to Kristy Garcia-Quintela, director of ocean freight at GEODIS, a global logistics company. '34% is pretty big,' said Garcia-Quintela, who added the U.S. demand for global ocean shipping saw a 6% decline in April compared to the same month last year. Besides Chinese imports dropping to a post-pandemic low, shipments from the United States' other largest trading partners – the European Union, Mexico, and Canada – also fell in April. Purchases from the European Union, for example, dropped in April to $53 billion after surging to an all-time high just a month earlier at nearly $82 billion. Despite a partial pullback in tariffs and ongoing trade talks, the trade tensions still remain high, and experts expressed concerns about the road ahead. 'The truly catastrophic tariffs that were announced on Liberation Day have been avoided, but it's not like everything is looking good right now,' said Noland, the economist.
