US steel and aluminium tariffs threaten chemical and plastics sectors

The chemical and plastics industries are pushing back hard against global tariffs of 25% on steel and 10% on aluminium that will take effect in the US on 23 March. For now, the tariffs – formally ordered by President Trump on 8 March – will not apply to Canada and Mexico. Other countries like Australia, which Trump called a ‘long term partner’, could also get a reprieve.

The Plastics Industry Association, for one, is urging its members to lobby Congress. The trade group says it strongly opposes these duties on materials that are critical to plastics manufacturing, cautioning that they will devastate the plastics industry.