ACC: US Tariffs levied against more than 1500 chemicals and plastic products will have long-term consequences for producers, suppliers, and consumers

“With the US and China imposing another round of tariffs on an increasing number of products, the cost of doing business in the United States is rising. US manufacturers today face a steep climb to retain our position as one of the world’s leading, low-cost producers of chemicals. A total of 1517 chemicals and plastic imports from China, valued at US$15.4 billion, have now been targeted across all three US lists. The tariffs will cut off US manufacturers from international supply chains and from importing inputs that help keep them competitive in the global marketplace. At the same time, retaliatory tariffs by China have hit more than 1000 US chemicals and plastics exports, worth an estimated US$10.8 billion, erecting a huge barrier to China’s growing markets.

“The tariffs – in effect a tax – put US chemical manufacturers at a disadvantage, but we aren’t the only ones that will suffer the impact. Since chemistry touches 96% of all manufactured goods, taxes on our industry will ultimately raise the prices of popular consumer products – everything from cars and trucks to electronics.

“As with previous tariff rounds, US chemicals manufacturers welcome the opportunity to make a case for why more chemicals should be excluded from this round of tariffs. Earlier this month, our industry reached a milestone – surpassing US$200 billion in announced new chemical investment projects here in the United States. Around half of that investment is still in the planning or development stages and therefore vulnerable to delay or abandonment as a result of the new tariffs imposed on our industry. Nearly all of that investment is focused on serving the global market. American businesses, which may have to consider shifting their production overseas to avoid the tariffs, or face the possibility of having to close up shop entirely, deserve the opportunity to be heard.

“Our industry has been clear that a tit-for-tat trade war will hurt US manufacturers, retailers, and consumers. We call on the US and China to resume negotiations toward an agreement that will eliminate the need for these costly tariffs.”

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/special-reports/26092018/acc-us-tariffs-levied-against-more-than-1500-chemicals-and-plastic-products-will-have-long-term-consequences-for-producers-suppliers-and-consumers/