The Biden administration is reportedly holding off on implementing sanctions against Russia that would target the country’s aluminum industry. The sanctions, which were announced by the Trump administration in December 2020, would have imposed restrictions on Russian aluminum producer Rusal, the world’s largest aluminum producer outside of China. The sanctions were intended to punish Russia for its alleged interference in the 2020 U.S. presidential election and for other malign activities.
However, the Biden administration is reportedly holding off on implementing the sanctions, in part due to concerns about the potential impact on the global aluminum supply chain. The sanctions would have blocked the U.S. from doing business with Rusal and its parent company, En+ Group. This would have had a significant impact on the global aluminum market, as Rusal accounts for about 7% of the world’s aluminum production.
The sanctions could have also had a major impact on the U.S. aluminum industry, as Rusal supplies about 10% of the aluminum used in the U.S. The sanctions could have resulted in higher aluminum prices and disrupted the supply chain for U.S. companies that rely on aluminum for their products. The Biden administration is reportedly considering other measures to punish Russia for its alleged election interference and other malign activities, such as targeting individuals and entities with sanctions and expelling Russian diplomats.
The Biden administration is also reportedly considering a diplomatic approach to dealing with Russia. This could involve working with other countries to pressure Russia into changing its behavior and engaging in talks with the Russian government. The Biden administration is reportedly weighing the potential economic impact of the sanctions on the global aluminum supply chain and the U.S. aluminum industry before deciding whether to proceed with the sanctions.
The Biden administration is also reportedly considering other measures to punish Russia, such as targeting individuals and entities with sanctions and expelling Russian diplomats. The Biden administration’s decision to hold off on implementing the sanctions against Russia’s aluminum industry is a sign that the administration is taking a more measured approach to dealing with Russia than the Trump administration. The Biden administration is reportedly seeking to avoid any disruption to the global aluminum supply chain and is instead considering diplomatic and other measures to punish Russia for its alleged election interference and other malign activities.
