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OAITW r.2.0

(30,915 posts)
Fri Nov 7, 2025, 10:52 PM Friday

Let me relate my perspective on the Trump Tariff's...from an international. small business perspective.

Made my bones in US manufacturing from 71-99. Then started a business repping manufacturer's in China and later, in India. We dealt exclusively with US OEM's and delivered product to drawing specifications. Most recently. we had a reasonably healthy business, repping extruded aluminum product producers in India. Until Trump tariff's kicked in. Most of our business dried up and we've been semi-dormant for the past 6 or 7 months. 50% tariffs tend to do that.

But, this week, we are re-engaging with 3 customers who were primary customers for us before Trump. Why, you ask?

Because US aluminum capacity cannot address US demand. Lead times are going out. The biggest US players in extruded aluminum products are booking capacity and the smaller guys - our clients - are forced to work at a 50% disadvantage, cost wise. No matter, they can't compete with 26 week lead times. We can offer 8 week order to delivery. That means something in business.

End result. we will pay more for most everything we buy.

4 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Let me relate my perspective on the Trump Tariff's...from an international. small business perspective. (Original Post) OAITW r.2.0 Friday OP
Very interesting. Canada makes lots of aluminum for US, but the business would be different. Bernardo de La Paz Yesterday #1
I don't think Canada wants to regress to primary aluminum extruding. OAITW r.2.0 Yesterday #2
You know the business. I don't. Hence I said "different in kind". Glad to hear you are getting some business. . . nt Bernardo de La Paz Yesterday #3
Really. at my age. why should I give a fuck? OAITW r.2.0 Yesterday #4

Bernardo de La Paz

(60,320 posts)
1. Very interesting. Canada makes lots of aluminum for US, but the business would be different.
Sat Nov 8, 2025, 12:44 AM
Yesterday

I think it would be different in scale and kind, as well as having its own established reps and relationships that would be hard to break into.

OAITW r.2.0

(30,915 posts)
2. I don't think Canada wants to regress to primary aluminum extruding.
Sat Nov 8, 2025, 01:00 AM
Yesterday

India has huge bauxite reserves and conversion to AL ingots is pretty basic/polluting tech. Conversion into extrusions is also pretty basic manufacturing process technology....is this what Trump envisions? Fuck him.

Bernardo de La Paz

(60,320 posts)
3. You know the business. I don't. Hence I said "different in kind". Glad to hear you are getting some business. . . nt
Sat Nov 8, 2025, 01:04 AM
Yesterday

OAITW r.2.0

(30,915 posts)
4. Really. at my age. why should I give a fuck?
Sat Nov 8, 2025, 01:32 AM
Yesterday

Because I have a 25 year relationships with our team in China - 7 people that I've grown old with.

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