Aluminium manufacturer wants higher tariffs on Chinese products

Aluworks Ghana is calling on government to increase tariffs on imported Chinese products.

According to the Managing Director of Aluworks, Ernest Kwasi Okoh, the Chinese are dumping their inferior goods such as cooking utensils, roofing sheets among others on the Ghanaian market, which is largely responsible for the near collapse of Ghanaian companies, including Aluworks.

Aluworks has had torrid times over the past few years due to the erratic power supply and the unfair competition.

Making his plea in an interview with Citi Business, Mr Ernest Kwasi Okoh was optimistic about the company’s recovery but believes Government must help to bring the company back to life.

“The Chinese products that come in as our finished products are slightly above the cost of our raw materials which means it doesn’t make sense even to manufacture so it is only the strong customers who want quality that have stayed with us. Ghanaians look for cheap things and they go and buy that; therefore we’ve had a diminishing in our ability to sell.

“We have lobbied government extensively and we know the government is thinking seriously about increasing tariffs on Chinese goods because they are dumping. Dumping is against WTO laws. Other countries have imposed tariff increases for dumping on China, Why not Ghana? Because we are suffering. We must look at our own industry also growing.”

He assured shareholders that the company is likely to become a big player once again on the Ghana Stock Exchange.

“I can see in the next 2-3 years Aluworks back as the darling of the Stock Exchange like it used to be many years ago because once revenue starts, a lot of things that have been postponed, especially a lot of capital expenditure on our second coal mill, can now take place and we can meet all the demands in front of us. Luckily for us, the recession seems to be going away. When it does the Chinese will pull back.”