EU to approve reduction in aluminium import duty next week

According to an official representative of European Commission, the E.U. expects to adopt on Monday the proposed cut in aluminium import duty.

Earlier this month, the European national governments agreed to cut import duties on unwrought, non-alloyed aluminium to 3% from 6% and to review the duties in three years.

The duty cut could be enforced on all member states as an early as mid-May, another E.U. official said.

However, the proposal to scrap duties altogether sparked opposition in Germany, France and Spain, where many smelters are located.

Poland has been the main driver to lower the duty, because many of Poland's aluminium manufacturers rely on Russian imports.

The E.U. consumes 5.2 million tons of primary aluminium a year, and produces 2.3 million tons, according to the Federation of Aluminium Consumers in Europe.