Aluminum manufacturing SMEs cry for help to try to lessen the devastating impact of American customs duties by 50%.
“For SMEs in the transformation of aluminum, it is really urgent to help them,” worries in an interview with Journal Charlotte Laramée, CEO of Aluquébec. Governments have proposed solutions, but they are often loans with interest, and companies are already sufficiently indebted, ”she continues.
Aluquebec brings together 1,700 companies representing some 30,000 jobs in Quebec.
“There could be forgivable loans under certain conditions,” adds Ms. Laramée.
A forgivable loan is a loan, part of which becomes a subsidy over time if certain criteria are met.
Aluquebec is categorical: our SMEs cruelly need public money for their working capital because their financial situation is deteriorating in sight.
Recall that last month, American president, Donald Trump, brought to 50% the customs duties on steel and aluminum imported by the United States.
Sandwich
Charlotte Laramée explains that manufacturers must sometimes pass their products several times on one side and the other from the border, which explodes the costs.
“SMEs will have prices to go. Back to return, etc. It becomes really very difficult for them, ”she says.
According to a survey of its association, between 8% and 10% of jobs are now at risk due to the salvas of prices by the end of the year if nothing helps.
Aluquebec believes that the markets must be diversified urgently, even if it is more difficult than it seems.