Worldwide aluminium extruders join in a league

Intercontinental aluminium extruders formed an association – International Fair Trade Alliance – to promote and defend fair trade practices.

The IFTA is a non-profit organisation created to unite aluminium extrusion manufacturers and suppliers in order to promote free and fair trade.

The alliance, which started forming this summer, consists of aluminium extruders from North and South America, Australia and New Zealand, the Gulf States, and Israel, said a statement from IFTA.

Jason Weber, director - international market intelligence for Sapa Extrusion North America, and newly elected chairman of IFTA, said: "Our alliance believes that a network of market-based aluminium extrusion companies and associations can work together to support, teach, and advocate fair trade practices at a national and international level.”.

The members of IFTA claim that non-market based economies are engaged in undermining the principles of free enterprise through a variety of illegal and unfair trade practices that can be tackle by individual countries and at the World Trade Organization.

Lewis Saragossi, chairman and managing director of G James Glass & Aluminium and representing the Australian Aluminium Extrusion Association on IFTA's board, said: “We are all seeing illegal and unfair trade tactics from China being exported to other countries.”

He further stated, “It is time for our industry to come together as a global community to share data and field intelligence so each of our marketplaces can efficiently and quickly confront these threats,”

Until now, the IFTA has enrolled new members by invitation and operated on voluntarily donated funds. Extruders and extrusion trade associations are being invited to pose questions on how to get involved.

Jochen Münch, commercial director of Ecuadorian extruder Corporación Ecuatoriana de Aluminio Cedal, said: “What we are seeing is the proliferation of Chinese aluminium extrusions throughout South America.”

He further stated, “As duties, have been imposed by countries like Australia, Canada, and the US; Chinese extruders are moving into new markets. So, even if you do not feel the threat today, just give it some time and you will.”

The Sanford Organization (TSO), a fully accredited association management company located in suburban Chicago, Illinois, US is going to manage the IFTA.TSO controls trade associations, professional societies, and trade shows and is headed by Jeff Henderson. It renders services to the Aluminium Extruders Council (AEC) and the Aluminium Anodizers Council. It also provides efficient collaboration on common issues such as fair trade.

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