Recently, President Trump signed an executive order to protect the U.S. aluminum industry from cheap imports. But, what Trump doesn't seem to understand is that while aluminum is the 3rd most prevalent element on earth, it isn't economically extractable unless it is smelted from bauxite ore. And, this is something we have very little of. In fact, 90% of all U.S. bauxite is found in just one state: Arkansas. On top of that, most all of the aluminum that is smelted in this country is for non-metallic uses such as abrasives.
So, if we don't have enough bauxite to meet our strategic military metallurgical needs for aircraft, ships, etc., and Trump imposes tariffs against countries like China for cheap imported metals, the U.S. winds up being the big loser. We'll just start paying even more for aircraft and all other military uses. You and I will pay more for window frames, aluminum car parts, your can of beer, coke, and all the other myriad uses of aluminum.
This is sheer stupidity. He should stick to real estate!
References:
Trump moves to protect US industry from cheap aluminum imports: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/trump-moves-to-protect-us-industry-from-cheap-aluminum-imports/article/2621504
Bauxite mining in the United States: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bauxite_mining_in_the_United_States
Bauxite: Almost all of the aluminum that has ever been produced has been made from bauxite: http://geology.com/minerals/bauxite.shtml
Yes, we have no aluminum (ore): http://richardgibsonwriter.blogspot.com/2010/01/yes-we-have-no-aluminum-ore.html
List of countries by bauxite production: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_bauxite_production
Bauxite Dependency: Roots of Crisis: https://nacla.org/article/bauxite-dependency-roots-crisis
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