Thank you, Madam Chair.
Hello to all my colleagues. I'm happy to see you in person after all these months of distancing and virtual House sittings, not to mention all the technical difficulties we've had as a result.
Mr. Verheul, thank you for joining us. First, I would like you to tell me whether my perception of the situation is correct. Primary aluminum producers in the United States have been waving the red flag for a long time. They have been saying loud and clear, rightly or wrongly, that there is a serious problem and that unfair practices are occurring. In this case, however, I really do not understand where it's coming from.
We're being criticized for increasing our exports, but if you look at the situation, you see that, since this Parliament began, there have been two crises where the railways were blocked and delays piled up. I think our aluminum producers merely decided to deliver the aluminum that was late. It seems to me it's as simple as that. I don't think there is any basis for the U.S.'s claim, as proven by the fact that primary aluminum producers in the U.S. could have taken the normal route and sought a bailout, but they didn't.
Doesn't that show this is a tempest in a teapot?
Have we lost Mr. Verheul?