Ford Motor Company sought tariff relief from the Trump administration for aluminum imports after a September fire at Novelis’ Oswego, New York, plant disrupted supply. The fire affected Novelis’ production of aluminum sheets, used by 10 automakers including Ford, Stellantis, and Toyota, and led to temporary plant shutdowns and delays in parts deliveries.

Officials told the Wall Street Journal that while Ford and other automakers raised concerns over the disruption, their requests for tariff relief were not substantial. Under the current trade policy, aluminum imported from Europe and South Korea carries a 50% tariff, increasing costs for automakers relying on these supplies.

Novelis expects the Oswego facility to return to full capacity by early May, but the shortage has already forced Ford to cut F-Series truck production by half. Analysts say the impact is significant: Daniel Ives of Wedbush Securities described the situation as “very difficult” for Ford, while Sam Fiorani of AutoForecast Solutions noted that limited F-150 inventory is already affecting sales and could harm the company’s bottom line.

The rejection underscores the ongoing challenges U.S. automakers face in balancing domestic production needs with trade policies that raise costs on critical materials.