United States-Cuba Trademark Protection Act of 2003

The Aluminum industry operates about 470 plants in 40 U.S. states, employs nearly 100,000 people with approximately $3.5 billion total payroll. While Association member companies conduct business worldwide, the U.S aluminum industry ranks first in the world in annual primary aluminum production capacity, accounting for about 16 percent of world supply or over 8 billion pounds of metal. The Association represents U.S. primary producers of aluminum, recyclers, and producers of semi-fabricated products. Americans consume aluminum primarily in transportation (32 percent), containers and packaging (21 percent), and building and construction (13 percent). The advances in the automotive aluminum market are helping Americans drive better-performing cars that in turn reduce CO2 emissions and save fuel consumption. Recycled aluminum—from beverage cans to all other uses—requires only about 5 percent of energy as compared to primary-ore production. Americans’ recycling efforts and the industry’s aluminum reclamation system thereby reduce the overall energy consumption in total U.S. aluminum production by 46 percent. Progress on Emissions Reductions The aluminum industry’s Voluntary Aluminum Industrial Partnership is committed to make reductions in two potent PFCs, tetrafluoromethane (CF4) and hexafluoroethane (C2F6). Twelve companies in this aluminum industry program were recognized by President George W. Bush’s 2002 Climate Change Report for meeting their 2000 goal to reduce PFC emissions from U.S. primary aluminum smelting by 45%—equivalent to 2.2 million metric tons of carbon dioxide annually—using cost-effective approaches that make economic and environmental sense for the partners. 2002 Industry Statement on Greenhouse Gas Reductions 1. Scientists have determined that the earth is gradually warming due, in part, to increased atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases. 2. The aluminum industry recognizes that climate change presents a challenge that requires cooperative action on a global basis. 3. The recycling of aluminum requires 95% less energy and produces 95% lower greenhouse gas emissions than the production of primary aluminum. 4. Life cycle studies of aluminum’s use in North American automotive applications show that replacing two pounds of steel with one pound of aluminum to lightweight a vehicle can save on a typical mid-size sedan 20 pounds of CO2 emissions over the lifetime of that vehicle. The use of automotive aluminum has doubled since 1991 and is expected to double again by 2005. The ability for aluminum to impact transportation related greenhouse gas emissions is important. 5. The aluminum industry has a voluntary greenhouse gas emission reduction program in place. This voluntary partnership with EPA has been renewed through 2005. The 1990 to 2000 phase of the program resulted in about a 45% reduction in PFC (tetraflouromethane [CF4] and hexaflouroethane [C2F6]) emissions below 1990 levels from the primary aluminum production process. This common sense, cost effective program was among the first voluntary programs developed with EPA and has produced annual emission reductions of over 2.2 MMTCE. 6. Since the Industry has taken the initiative to voluntarily reduce its process greenhouse gas emissions, it strongly supports policies and programs that credit for early action taken in reducing greenhouse gases since 1990. The Industry also supports efficient and economically sound emissions trading programs and registries that recognize early emissions reductions. 7. The industry supports and participates in public/private partnerships to spur pre-competitive research to reduce greenhouse gas process emissions and to promote energy saving aluminum product applications. 8. The industry supports a responsible approach to growth in demand for its products and the consequent growth in activity and related emissions, noting that solutions to the climate change issue involve both reducing emissions at source and also over the full lifecycle of the material or products.