Who's He Kidding?

   On instructions from the president, the Commerce Department will investigate the dangers of aluminum imports to U.S. national security and military preparedness.
   "Today is an historic step in our efforts to restore America's depleted manufacturing and defense industrial base," according to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross.
   He noted that "eight U.S. based smelters have either closed or curbed production since 2015," and there is "only one North American smelter capable of producing high purity aluminum needed for national security applications."
   However, there is only one major U.S. company producing aluminum -- Alcoa -- and it is doing quite well, thank you. The company reported first quarter earnings of $225 million on revenue of $2.75 billion. But it has four smelters in the U.S. So where is the North American smelter that Ross deems so important to U.S. national security -- Canada?
   Moreover, the source material for aluminum is bauxite, most of which is found in Australia, which produces 81,000 metric tons of the ore annually. Second is China, with annual production of 47,000 tons, but increased world demand has meant China is importing bauxite.
   Alcoa's biggest competitor is Kaiser Aluminum Corp., based in California, which reported first quarter net income of $36 million, on revenue of $355 million.
   Kaiser said it has been focusing on high quality aluminum products for aerospace, automotive, and engineering markets.
   So if there are only two major aluminum manufacturers in America, both doing well, why does it take a federal investigation to protect these two major American corporations from foreign competition?
   Unless the foil maker of Reynolds Wrap wants protection, but that company focuses on the consumer market, not military aircraft parts.
   The only other possibility that comes to mind is a payoff by the business-friendly administration for corporate support during the election season.