HOPKINSVILLE, Ky. & OLDSMAR, Fla.--()--EZ-ACCESS®, the leading provider of innovative accessibility solutions made in the USA, and MI Metals, Inc., a nationwide leader in aluminum extrusion manufacturing, are deeply disappointed with the recent U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) ruling that allows aluminum extrusions from 14 countries, including China and India, to enter the U.S. market without necessary duties. This decision, issued on October 30, 2024, has substantial implications for American manufacturers and threatens to undermine the quality of products and American jobs.

The USITC’s ruling states that these imports do not materially injure or threaten the U.S. aluminum industry, contradicting previous assessments of unfair trade practices. As a result, no new antidumping (AD) or countervailing duties (CVD) will be imposed on these aluminum extrusions, and provisional AD/CVD duties collected during the investigation will be refunded to importers.

An appeal has been formally filed in response to this ruling, underscoring the need for fair trade practices that protect American industries and workers. This decisive action reflects our unwavering dedication to holding subsidized competitors accountable and advocating for American manufacturing.

“The Commission’s recent decision was both shocking and extremely disappointing. The recent ruling gives carte blanche to our subsidized competitors to flood the U.S. market with cheap imports that threaten American jobs and this critical domestic industry,” said Brook Massey, President of MI, Metals, Inc. “In business for over 40 years, MI Metals remains steadfastly committed to U.S. production of high-quality aluminum extrusions by American workers and will continue to demand a level playing field for U.S. manufacturing.”

In May 2024, the Biden White House issued a statement acknowledging that imports of certain aluminum products from China and other foreign countries were harming the U.S. steel and aluminum industry, emphasizing the need for fair trade practices. Yet, this latest ruling facing extrusions takes a different view, which leaves many American manufacturers like EZ-ACCESS facing competition from an influx of subsidized foreign products.

“This appeal represents our broader effort to address these inequities and prevent long-term damage to domestic products,” said Don Everard, CEO of EZ-ACCESS. “By challenging the decision, we aim to safeguard American jobs and promote the high-quality standards that define the products made in the U.S.”

“This ruling is a blow to American businesses that have built their reputation on quality and dedication to U.S. labor,” said Chris Boyd, CEO of Antebellum Manufacturing, LLC, a manufacturer in the aluminum fence, gate and rail market who uses U.S. suppliers for its extrusion needs. “While these imported products may appear cheaper, they come at the expense of American jobs and the integrity of our industry. At Antebellum, we stand by our commitment to U.S.-made quality, even as we face an influx of subsidized alternatives that often fall short of the standards Americans deserve.”

EZ-ACCESS and MI Metals urge policymakers and consumers alike to consider the long-term impacts of these decisions. Every purchase of a U.S.-made product supports not only local businesses but also American communities and families who rely on stable jobs and fair wages.

About MI Metals, Inc.

MI Metals, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of aluminum extrusion products with strategic locations across the United States. The company specializes in producing standard and custom aluminum shapes with various finishes, including mill, clear coat anodize, and wet solvent paint. MI Metals serves diverse industries, including construction, outdoor recreational facilities, security fencing, and solar energy.

MI Metals operates facilities in multiple states, including Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and Arizona, employing over 250 workers nationwide. The company's products have been utilized by manufacturers in various sectors, including window production, handrails, awnings, and other construction-related applications.

About EZ-ACCESS®

EZ-ACCESS, a division of Homecare Products, Inc., has been a family-owned and operated company since 1984 and continues to be one of the World’s leading producers of high-quality accessibility solutions. Whether it be providing the baby boomer population with solutions to make their home accessible, supplying public buildings with ADA-compliant ramps so individuals of all abilities can safely enter, designing OSHA stairs that can be set up and stowed away as many times as a job site moves, or creating innovative access solutions for powersport lovers, EZ-ACCESS is all about breaking down barriers and getting individuals where they need to go. The company’s tried and true durable, dependable ramps, platforms, and stairs provide flexible short- and long-term solutions for a wide variety of structures and spaces. At EZ-ACCESS, products are just the beginning. Their commitment to exceptional customer service is an enduring promise and the driving force behind their success. From Veterans to architects, they ensure their customers are well taken care of.